A Tie is Better Than - Nothing!
by Rachel Webb
Description: Father's Day gift ideas.
Fathers Day was started in 1909 with Sonora Dodd who wanted
a special day to honor her father. Her mother died giving birth to
their 6th child and her father had continued to raise the children
and run the family farm in rural Washington. In 1966 it was made
official and the 3rd Sunday of June was Fathers Day from then on.
Obviously Sonora's father was very deserving of the honor but
Sonora admitted that she campaigned for the Holiday in part for
equality and fairness to Dads since Mothers Day was already
being celebrated. Mothers Day has consistently been the best
retail sales day of the year second only to Christmas. Fathers
Day doesn't even come in third place for gift giving so it seems
that the #1 Fathers Day Gift would be...a gift! Any gift - just
remember Dad too!
Does Fathers Day take a back seat to Mothers Day in your family?
If he does receive a gift is he handed a new power tool and a
handy man to-do list? Or do the kids call him collect and say
"Happy Fathers Day"? FamilyEducation.com conducted a poll
last year asking how father day is celebrated in your home.
with almost 2000 votes tabulated, barely 60% honored Dad with
cards, gifts and dinner.
Just as Moms appreciate homemade macaroni necklaces,
Dads enjoy homemade gifts of love and service as well. My
father still has the ceramic horse head bookends I made for
him in 2nd grade. Stumped for what to get your Dad? Here
are some suggestions where the whole family can be involved
in the activity making and creating a homemade gift that would
make any Dad feel special!
Shadow Box Memorabilia
Honor Dad by showcasing items that were important in his
life while at the same time displaying genealogy the younger
generation can learn about. Preserve military medals and
ribbons, service club pins, coins, baseball cards or other
memorabilia your Dad enjoyed collecting in an acid free
shadow box.
Pie Baking Contest
Extended family can each bring a different kind of pie, let
dad be the judge by sampling them all and awarding prizes!
Family Carwash & Detailing
Assign each family member part of the gift like: new floor
mats, hanging scent for the rear view mirror, carpet and
upholstery cleaner, new tape or cd, new drink holder and
soda refill coupon, pre-paid credit for 1 month of gasoline,
wax and buffing mitts, etc. After Dad opens his gifts, the whole
family can get involved in cleaning and detailing the car inside
and out. You could also change the oil, re-fill the windshield
washer and break fluid too!
Relive Camping & Fishing Memories
Rent a cabin in the mountains for a family retreat, only this time
Dad doesn't have to pack the car, hunt for firewood, lug the
dutchovens, bait the hooks or untangle the fishing lines! Have
each child prepared to tell a campfire story about Dad as they
roast him a marshmallow!
Reprinted with permission.
Related articles:
Handmade Gifts for Dad
Seven Super Themes for Father's Day Gift Baskets
Five Simple Gifts that Kids Can Make for Dad
