Father’s Day Memories and Gifts

Father’s Day is fast approaching, and I have been trying to brainstorm some solid gift ideas for my dad, husband, and father-in-law. My personality tends to strive for over-achievement in the gift-giving department. Surprising people with great presents makes me happy. I am the type of gift giver that likes to be right and look smug when a recipient pulls out the perfect present from me and is thrilled. I just nod and shrug, but silently (and sometimes verbally) I shower myself with accolades for a job well done. *The Parks & Rec episode where Leslie Knope has the insane ability to give the most perfect gifts to everyone makes me jealous because I want that super power.

This means I set the bar high when it comes to finding the best ways to spoil some of the most important guys in my life. The job is made harder when there is extreme competition for every ounce of my attention each day from my four children and two dogs (yes, I got another dog…but that is a whole other blog topic). Tessa’s list from earlier this week highlighted great ideas that I plan to use this year and in the future. However, I am also doing something I almost never do. I actually just asked my dad and my husband what they wanted. Well, I sort of asked. I really more instructed them (and a few others) to tell me all about their favorite past presents and also to provide details about their most treasured Father’s Day memories. Hearing exactly what made them happy on Father’s Day offered great insight regarding the best way to spoil them; it also saved me a ton of time on research!

Time with Immediate and Extended Family

Almost every guy I asked somehow referenced that the best Father’s Day moments involved spending time with families, spouses, and extended family. It turns out, fathers love guy time. Especially when this time includes the grandfathers, which means coordinating a date for some male generational bonding may be in order to achieve a successful Father’s Day.

My in-laws have a cabin on the river. They have had this special place for decades and it holds many precious memories for my husband and now our family. We try to get up there as often as possible, but now I have it in writing that this is what makes my husband the happiest. He told me, “I like when we go to the river for Father’s Day. I get to hang out with my dad and family, at the same time, doing things I grew up doing.” Spoiler alert, I know what we will be doing on Father’s Day! Cue the wake board, sandy bottom diapers, life jackets, coolers of ice, and giggles mixed in with the sound of splashing water.

My best friend from high school married a great guy who also was able to tell me his greatest Father’s Day moment with little hesitation. It involved a day watching his youngest play baseball. The game was made more special because grandpa and big brother were also in the bleachers. Shane’s dad had recently retired and moved closer, so the moment of togetherness was simple, but also unique. “My father had missed a lot of those times previously because of how far away they had lived. It was a day I don’t think we will ever forget.”

Leave it to the Kids

So many dads with little ones said they loved just getting cards and drawings from their kiddos. No person can resist a portrait of themselves with no pants and a square shaped head. Preschoolers are the best at depicting funny situations involving a parent via crayon sketches and chalk creations.

I remember when my older kiddos were toddlers and they would “write” letters. Their “writings” at that point were just scribbled lines on a piece of paper. I would have them “write” a card to their dad or grandpa for Father’s Day and when they finished I would transcribe it for them. The narratives were hilarious and often involved tales of huge muscles, super grandpa strength, and even some potty humor courtesy of my son and his boy minded brain. Imaginative two-year-olds or three-year-olds are the best at this because they are an age group that loves an audience and can really crank out a story line when they hear it will end up in print by mom.

Printing actual photos is another gift giving option, and rare in today’s digital age. My college buddy’s husband explained that his first Father’s Day was the best because his wife printed out a collage of photos documenting his first year as a daddy. Dave explained, “It meant so much because seeing those pictures of her (my daughter) made me realize how fast the time had gone already and how fast her childhood would go.”

Adult Children

Grown-ups should realize that we are never too old to tell our parents what we like about them. Last year Tessa and I each wrote a blog post that listed off the top reasons we love our fathers. My dad was touched by my piece, and the post got even better because it spring boarded my brothers to do the same thing and send him special messages that day. He basically got a David Letterman’s Top 10 List throughout Father’s Day from all of his adult children that spelled out in a variety of ways how we think he is the absolute best. “Meant the world to me,” stated my dad who really is the greatest all-around guy.

I grew up lucky. My dad taught me to love the Red Sox (even during the rough seasons) and myself. He is hip and has a smart-phone, but his personality also has a touch of retro cool that has him still emailing good forwards and taking great photos with an actual camera. He gave me my sense of humor and my confidence. When we are fortunate enough to road-trip together to a book signing or kids activity, we never need the radio because our conversations are non-stop. I look like my amazing mom, but the sarcastic streak of personality in me comes from my father. I am fortunate and I know it. (THANKS DAD and Happy Early Father’s Day!)

I need to remember that being together and making memories almost always trumps a wrapped present or gift card. Therefore, I know where my family will be on Father’s Day and I look forward to the generations of family that will surround us.