6 Ways to Make Father’s Day Special for Dad
Give Dad the Father’s Day of his dreams with these six ideas for making the day special—because sometimes all Dad wants is a little food and relaxation. (And presents that he gets to pick for himself.)
1. Seatbelts everyone!
Go on a field trip to somewhere he loves and hasn’t been in a while. Whether he likes to fish or hike, go to the movies, or visit a museum he hasn’t been to since he was little, surprise him with a day outside of the house. No one likes to be cooped up inside on a special day.
2. 3—2—1—GO!
Let him go on a shopping spree. It sounds silly (I’m well aware that apparently only girls like to shop), but let him loose inside his favorite store. Give him a budget, tiny or huge, the amount doesn’t matter. He’ll have a blast browsing the shelves Mom is griping at him to hurry past on a normal day.
3. Dinner bell! DING DING DING!
Make sure he gets his favorite meal. Take him to his favorite restaurant or make him his mother’s secret meatloaf recipe that she guards like the Lost City of Atlantis. Watch his face as he eats it all up and asks for more and you’ll understand that men’s hearts really can be found through their stomachs.
4. Who are you and what have you done with ___?
Do you usually fight with your dad? Argue with him until you’re both blue in the face? Steal the remote or something else he finds obnoxious? Make a concentrated effort not to do those things for the whole weekend (or if you’re like me, even just the one day will be impressive). Before noon he’ll be asking what you’ve done with his son or daughter.
5. Zzzzzzzzz . . .
Your dad doesn’t like you dragging him around to do things all day, or that’s what his usual day-to-day is like? Then give him the reverse. Let him have a super lazy day. Turn off his alarm and let him sleep in. Bring him food, let him veg out on the couch. Whatever he wants to do, let him do it, as long as it doesn’t include his usual daily busyness.
6. Typical, very typical
Give him the stereotypical Father’s Day. Dads laugh with each other about how many ties they’ve gotten from their kids, but those typical things are also a rite of passage among dads. So give him all of them, with style. SocialMoms.com has a couple different ways to reinvent classic Father’s Day gifts, including tie cookies and a printable grill that can be used to hold a gift. Give him a fun story to tell his other dad friends the next time they talk.
No matter what you do, the most important way to make Father’s Day special is to remember why you’re celebrating in the first place. You’re showing your love for this guy who changed your dirty diapers, sat by your side when you were sick, screamed at you when you were being unnecessarily dumb, and loved you through it all. Anything you do is done to appreciate him.
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Wisdom for Dad
Gone are the days of long, handwritten letters from father to son. Now, the most we can expect is a text, tweet, or Facebook update. By accessing the social web and the power of the dad crowd, Wisdom for Dad cuts through the clutter to deliver brief, witty pieces of wisdom—in 140 characters or less.
Hugh Weber started DudetoDad.com as a genuine cry for help from an ordinary dude who wanted to be an extraordinary dad. Dude to Dad has since grown to include a social network of 85,000 fathers and two books, Dude to Dad and Wisdom for Dad, an Amazon Parenting #1 & #2 Bestseller. Hugh is also the founder of OTA, a creative collaborative offering extraordinary experiences and engagements that educate, empower, and serve as catalysts for community-builders and change agents to improve the lives of all people living in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota.