Father’s Day!
Oy. Father’s Day is just around the corner! Yikes.
I have a wealth of fathers in my life. My dad. Ian’s father. Ian’s step-father. They are all wonderful. They are all pains in the butt to buy or make presents for. What do you give a man who already buys everything he might want for himself? What do you give the man who raised you, loved you, bailed you out a million times, and helped you become the person you are today? What do you give the man whom you recently feared might check out of your life altogether?
Then there’s my darling husband, the father on whom I depend most these days! How do you infuse a gift with all the love and appreciation and gratitude you feel? It’s impossible, and yet the opportunity to try comes around every year, challenging me every time.
I know not everyone has this "problem." I know some people would give anything to have a dad to give gifts to. I’m wealthy in the dad department and I’m grateful. I’m just wondering out loud.
June 16, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Pictures of the family? With maybe a snazzy digital frame?That’s something that only you can give.
June 16, 2009 at 8:56 pm
an ashtray and a necktie?
I think a dad would like to have some time with you. Maybe a love letter about how much you appreciate them this year specifically?
June 16, 2009 at 11:47 pm
My sister and I had this conversation today. Seriously, if he wants something, he goes out and gets it. So. Even though my dad may think it’s bleeding heart liberal hooey, my sister had this brilliant idea:
http://www.kiva.org/
And we donate in his name. Because he was always there. Because he made our educations possible. Because even when he couldn’t say “I love you,” he showed us you should share what you have, and help others — without fuss, without announcement.
So yeah. We’ll see if it registers. But I’m pretty excited about it.
June 17, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Presents? I just give my dads a card. Well, they each get their own respective cards; they don’t have to share one card or anything.
I think anything you do is bound to be sweet and much appreciated.
Oh, and I totally understand your angst. I used to torture myself trying to get my dad a present he’d like. That way madness lies.
June 17, 2009 at 12:31 pm
We put together a digital scrapbook at the end of each year of our homeschooling adventures using Shutterfly.com. It’s super-easy to do as you can upload the pics all year and then easily put them into their templates. Then, for about $11, you can have them publish a really cute, small, photo album/scrapbook which makes not only a nice end-of-year book for the family, but a nice father’s day present, too! We give these to the grandpas so that they have nice pics of the grandkids and then they can see some of the neat things we’ve done as a homeschooling family.
June 17, 2009 at 2:27 pm
I can back the love letter theory whole heartedly. No one ever gets tired of being told “I love you” or “thank you.” Time and an open heart is generally what we’re all looking for no matter our station I think. Good luck, doll!