Sometimes, the best Fathers Day gifts do not come from the store. Sometimes, the best Fathers Day gifts have nothing to do with purchasing something, but have everything to do with building memories.
We live in a very consumer driven society. It is very easy to get into the mindset of, “There’s another holiday coming up. What are we going to buy?” When a lot of times, the biggest and best presents involve other things like time or service. Those are the big memory makers!
My husband and I read a book before we got married – 16 years ago next week! It was called, “The 5 Love Languages“. It’s an oldy, but a goodie. He wrote editions for kids and singles now too. I think it started us out on the concept that “not everyone thinks like me”. Which is HUGE in a marriage. “What…you aren’t thinking and feeling exactly like me?” Big shocker for some newly weds. But it’s more than that, I still love that book because it basically lays out 5 possible ways that people may feel loved: quality time, words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service, or physical touch. Gifts is in there. But it’s not a gimmy love language. It’s a “I feel so loved because you thought about me enough to do something like this!” love language. My husband may be happy with a gift, but it’s not what really hits home with him. He’s definitely a quality time kind of guy. I am a huge words of affirmation person. Easy for my husband, right? He has learned this well, and is very generous with kind genuine words – or at least he has me convinced they are genuine…which is all that matters.
So, what does this have to do with Fathers Day? Everything! Our society says, “It’s Fathers Day! Buy him a tie, or power tools, or a new grill!” While that may mean a lot to many dads out there, a lot of time, those dads would love to have “gifts” that hit their love language right on the head.
Best Fathers Day Gifts
Here are are some ideas to get you going:
Quality Time
- Camping
- Hiking
- Biking/Quads
- You don’t have to do an “outdoorsy” activity if that’s not his thing. Just pick something where you’re not separate or too distracted from one another.
Words of Affirmation
- A well thought out card, hand written letter telling him how special he is to your lives.
- Really make a point to use “words of affirmation” regularly (but be genuine).
Gifts
- What does he really like? What is he really into? For my husband, it’s music, for my friend’s husband it’s tools. Every guy is different.
Acts of Service
- What things around this house are on his list of chores or things to do. Surprise him by getting those things done.
- Fix him his favorite meal.
- Tell him that you and the kids are his “runners” for the day and want to get him everything he needs.
Physical Touch
- This can be holding hands, always reaching out to touch his arm, etc. For the rest of it … I think you got it covered.
Our Best Fathers Day Gifts
We went camping (last weekend since we couldn’t on Fathers Day), and hiking. I was super happy because not only did we spend an amazing time together as a family, but it’s always exciting for me (as a homeschool mom) to see how much my kids are learning as we are out like that. They were turning over logs, examining fungi, moths, flowers, asking what every tree was called, noticing little differences in terrain as we walked. It was great!
I hope you have an amazing Father Day as well this Year!
