How to Give Your Dad the Gift He Really Wants on Father’s Day

The third Sunday of June will soon be upon us and year after year the dilemma continues to be how to give your Dad the gift he really wants on Father’s Day. Most of us spend little time contemplating what that perfect gift would be. Why not make this Father’s Day special by giving Dad what he really wants instead of what he really needs? Shopping for Dad can be a daunting task, but with a little thought, it doesn’t have to be overly complicated.

History

Even though legislation was introduced in the early 1900’s, throughout the years, the idea of a Father’s Day remained a focus of mockery and sarcasm. Not until 1972 and during the Nixon administration, did Father’s Day become recognized as an official holiday. It has now, like Mother’s Day, become a day of love and care, and a chance to reflect upon the love for your dad. Father’s Day is a time to appreciate the father, grandfather, or any other father figure in your life.

Wants and Needs

How to give your dad the gift he really wants for Father’s Day can, in itself, be a complex task. Father’s have a tendency to distance themselves when asked “what do you want?” or “what do you need?” The response will commonly be “I have everything I want,” or “I don’t need anything.” Never will they admit that there is something they truly want. Dads NEED things like socks, toothbrushes, toilet paper and the air that they breathe, but dads WANT to know that you care and what he means to you.

Can Mom Help?

Although Dad may wear the pants in the family, Mom tells him which ones to wear. So yes, you may exclaim, “I can ask Mom!” or “Mom will know!” Unfortunately, it’s not that simple! Mothers toil day in and day out over fathers’ wants and needs, so no doubt they labor over the same issues you find yourself faced with this Father’s Day.

Take a Moment to Reflect

Finding how to give your Dad the gift he wants for Father’s Day may mean having to pause and reflect on your relationship. Still, a quandary exists. Dad would never tell you or Mom what he really wants on Father’s Day, so finding out becomes an exercise in patience. Start early, get to know your Dad’s likes and dislikes. While getting to know your Dad better, you may discover his favorite place to shop, his favorite restaurant, or his favorite golf course.

Don’t despair if you are still dwelling on how to give your Dad the gift he really wants on Father’s day. Keep in mind the right gift may be one that you can’t buy. The right gift might just be a hug, an “I love you,” or a “Thanks for being my Dad.” He may walk away with a big smile as if he has just hit golf’s elusive “hole in one” instead of putting on his new socks because he HAS “a hole in one.”  Put simply, sometimes just spending time with your dad is enough to remind both of you that he still is – and will always be – your dad.