The Great Parental Popularity Contest.

Let’s face it, Father’s Day is like the middle child of holidays. It tries hard. It really does. But every June, just when dads are revving up the grill and hoping for something more than a tie with matching socks, the cold truth sets in.

Father’s Day is the opening act and Mother’s Day is the headliner.

According to every gift sales chart ever made, Mother’s Day absolutely crushes it. Spa gift cards, brunches, fancy dinner reservations, flowers that require a small business loan…Mom gets the works. There’s a whole section in every department store dedicated to mothers.

The emotional budget is high.

Now let’s talk about Father’s Day.

The Father’s Day section at most stores looks like a garage sale for tools no one really needs. It’s socks, grill tongs, golf balls and maybe a whiskey glass with #1 Dad engraved on it.

Dads don’t get brunch. They do often sit down to a home cooked family dinner.

Forget the commercials. Mother’s Day ads are cinematic masterpieces with swelling violins, tearful voiceovers and flashbacks to childbirth. Father’s Day ads are like: “Get him a belt. He has pants.”

 According to retail data, Mother’s Day  is second only to Christmas in spending.

Mother’s Day achieves the celebrity status level of Michelle Obama/Taylor Swift/ Kate Middleton.

The reality check is dads don’t really care. They’re just happy no one called them during the game. They don’t want petals or pancakes. Give them an hour to nap without being judged and they’ll say it’s the best Father’s Day ever.

So while Mother’s Day reigns supreme with its empire of gifts, flowery epithets and fanfare, Father’s Day stays humble and grateful.

My daughter’s dad is always in the spotlight on Father’s Day.

There is a facial scheduled, a trip to the MET, theater tickets and a fabulous omakase dinner and do not forget the gifts.

No favoritism evident in this household. We are an equal opportunity parental unit.