Father's Day is Like Mother's Day Only Cheaper
Bill Cosby once said about Fathers and the gifts their children give them: “Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope.” And so the search for the perfect gift idea for Dad begins!
Each Christmas, Birthday or Father’s Day, I often found myself wondering what I could get the man who had given me so much. I would often spend more time thinking about the gift than actually looking for it. Then, as with most of America, the hunt would begin in earnest the day before the big event when the selection was slim and the pressure was high. My father, whose sense of humor can be wickedly honest and brutally on target often said that “Father’s Day was just like Mother’s Day only cheaper.” And while Dad’s accurate quote stung just a little, I came to understand that the problem wasn’t what I was getting him it was more what I had not thought about beforehand. It really is the thought that counts!
When choosing a gift for a Father, perhaps it is best to begin with the man himself. What kind of person is the father you are choosing a gift for? What are Dad’s hobbies? What does he like to do in his spare time and when does he avoid doing. Very quickly, I came to understand that, like the women I loved getting gifts for so much (it’s easy, I lamented!), Dad’s excitement centered around his favorite hobbies. Here are some suggestions based on one daughter’s learning curve in getting her dad presents that rivaled soap on a rope!
My Dad is all about electronics – whether browsing through the new cordless phones or checking out a new computer program, chances are Dad is going to love it. Often just a new alarm clock or shower radio or weather band radio or even a keychain flashlight is all it takes to make Dad excited. I compare it to a kid at Christmas who wants to ride that bike right away… if it is electronics, Dad is going to have the box open, batteries installed and directions in front of him before the wrapping paper hits the floor. Be creative in this area. Dad can always use a new rechargeable flashlight or even a travel razor.
One year, frustrated with the entire search for Dad at Christmas, I decided to shop early for Dad’s birthday. Noticing that Dad liked to send a note to anyone who was sick or when a family friend died, I hit on getting Dad some personalized stationary. Wonder of wonder! It was a hit that became a regular gift through the years – as Dad ran out of stationary, he’d notify me who would joyfully stock up for the next Dad gift! This led to an array of gifts that continue to be favorites for my father. Anything personalized is something he loves whether a portfolio or a pen. There is something about our names being on an item that just get us excited. Call it ego if you want, but I have found that the recipient loves that the gift was not last minute and that the personal touch makes it seem so special. Many gift sites offer a wide selection of personalized gift ideas from designer pens to portfolios and more than assure Dad knows he is well thought of weeks before that special day.
The bottom line in gift giving for Dad is to figure out what he likes to do, who he likes to do it with and continue to stay true to that concept – even year after year. In finding that Dad likes personalized gifts, I continue to get him a wide array of gifts that combine the practical along with the personal. Last Christmas, a stocking stuffer for Dad was a crossword pencil (he loves crossword puzzles) that included his name engraved on the pen. I was able to combine his love of crossword puzzles with his fun in getting a personalized gift. Needless to say, months later he still keeps track of HIS special crossword pencil! Happy shopping!