First, let me say Happy Dad's day to all of you celebrating today!

I KNOW how lucky I am to have my dad and I usually really enjoy picking out cards for birthdays, Mother's Day and other special occasions but for some reason, Father's Day cards are always really difficult to buy. My dad is a great guy, but he doesn't:

Golf
Fish
Mow the lawn
Fix things

These topics are the dominant theme in Father's Day cards year after year. Unless I buy a very sentimental card (which I do on occasion but isn't really my style) or a card that appears to have been written by a little kid (which would be a bit odd coming from a 38 year old) I have an incredibly difficult time finding something appropriate.

It is a bit sad when I have an easier time buying a card for my brother in law than I do my own Dad.

</rant>

DM

I end up with "You're great. Have a great day. Great Great Great." cards. Your other alternatives are blank cards from the other end of the card aisle.

About 10 years ago, we put a moratorium on all cards for all occasions. If someone has something to say, they write it in a note.

Hand-writing "You're a great dad!" on a necktie then gift it to him. He wears a necktie, does he? ;)

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SoCal for now.

Our family put a moratorium on gifts unless it is something really big that everyone chips in for or really small and fun (this year I bought him a $9 2 Gallon thermos type jug because he broke his favorite sangria jug), so for us it's ALL about the cards.

LOL kap!

DM



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/17/2007 04:31PM by dmann.

same inscription on his favorite material thing, i.e. watch, baseball hat, a fountain pen, a leather bounded classic novel?

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SoCal for now.

My kids seemed to each pick out the perfect card that was a reflection of them and our relationship. Granted, all my kids are under 10, and not one card had anything to do with Golf, Fishing, Fixing Things, etc.

For Father's Day I used to hand-draw copies of Calvin & Hobbes strips, since they so perfectly pegged me and my dad's relationship.

The trick is, I guess, not to look at the card aisle and what they offer. Get an old picture of you and your dad from back when, and make a card from it. Or look in the kids section instead; those are always so much better.

[ADDED] FWIW, I'm 41 this year and my dad is in his sixties, and we mostly just call or I'll make him a stupid but funny card. Or something with my kids on it, or my kids doing something silly, or with a drawing by one of them. But my point was that I was doing the Calvin cards up until I was in my mid-thirties, because they were such a hit.

Can't do Dilbert ones now because he's sort of the PHB in his office;

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/17/2007 05:57PM by Zoidberg.

Does he drink bourbon or scotch? That's way better than any old card.

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[picasaweb.google.com] [www.flickr.com]

Or you could just call him and thank him for being your father.

Perhaps not as easy as a mass produced card that is being given to a thousand other men this very same day all over the country - but call me old fashioned, I think a plain old phone call is a bit more significant. Of course you run the risk of actually having to talk to him if you don't time it just right so the answering machine picks up instead.


outcast

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outcast
Or you could just call him

That solution would be quite bizarre if one was heading over to Dad's house for the day.

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$tevie

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outcast
Or you could just call him

That solution would be quite bizarre if one was heading over to Dad's house for the day.

Not necessarily, if you call and say that you just wanted to take moment to wish him a Happy Father's Day when no one else is around, so it's just between you and him.

I think there's a certain poignancy in that.

As I always say, "that's just my opinion, I could be wrong."

GeneL

I always called my Dad and we chatted. Wish I could do that now, but I'll say a little prayer at night when stargazing (he taught Astronomy for a few summer schools, and some of it stuck with me).

From my kids, I've declared that the picture in crayon is worth waaaay more than a tarted up piece of advertising. They generally got the idea. That and a hug from a normally annoying teenager is worth more.

Thanks for the thoughts everyone. I really was just venting... I am lucky that my dad (and the rest of my immediate family) lives nearby and I see everyone very, very, very regularly so I am not relying on this occasion to express myself.

Like I said, we don't exchange gifts so it is a bit of a game to see who can come up with the funniest, most sentimental, etc. card. The really amusing part is that my parents have been divorced for 30 years and everyone gets along so well that we celebrate all the holidays (major and minor) together. My mom gave my dad a "To My Husband on Father's Day" card and wrote a big "EX" before the word husband. My stepmom often gives my mom cards telling her she can have my dad back anytime she wants. Yes, we can be a sick group!

Sometimes I do the homemade thing, sometimes I do the store bought thing. It just drives me nuts that you can find cards for almost any occasion, but the prevalent belief that all dads fish, fix things, golf and mow the lawn still exists.

Definitely not a true PROBLEM, believe me, I know.

DM

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dmann
T... but the prevalent belief that all dads fish, fix things, golf and mow the lawn still exists.

DM

You forgot the cards featuring the ubiquitous TV remote control.

I was going to suggest making a card, but it sound slike that has been covered.

It's the one way to truly personalize your card for him. I like the idea of find an old funny photo of him and doing something with that. It recalls an earlier time, and elicits a laugh... all part of celebrating what it is to be a dad and appreciated.

36, not a dad yet, but someday...

Best gift is for my kids to be/marry a good Father, and so on and so forth.

and PICK UP THEIR ROOMS!

I am a Father and I hate Father's Day. I spent the day in my back yard, painting mouldings, drinking beer and listening to The Clash while Little Poochie played in his sandbox. Now THAT is a great Father's Day!