Let’s say you’re not a father. But you are a member of a more-or-less typical nuclear family. Perhaps you’re a son, a daughter, or a wife. If this is the case, what does Father’s Day mean to you? Do you think of it as a trifling holiday between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July? Will dear ol’ Dad be standing at a hot grill charring burgers and hot dogs for family, neighbors, and friends, as he does year after year? Or will he be driving you to King’s Island or maybe The Beach Waterpark treating you and the family to a riotous day of fun in the sun?
Of course, everyone will pause from the festivities for a few moments to present dad with a tie, a metal spatula, or an apron and a chef’s hat…STOP! Does all this sound all-too-familiar to you? If your answer is yes, do you think you might take Dad a little bit for granted?
While picnics and amusement parks are always crowd pleasers and Dad enjoys a little quality time with his loved ones, we might try to think of some meaningful ways we can reward his generosity on his special day. O.K., so he’s grumpy sometimes, but isn’t he the guy who’s there for you when you need him, not to mention the one who pays the bills?
Let’s try to imagine what Dad really wants? Hmmn…he might enjoy:
- A nice long nap in the shade.
- Watching an entire Reds game without interruption.
- A tall cold lemonade (or maybe a beer.)
- A wife without a headache. (Wink-wink.)
- Children who don’t argue or talk back. (I know it’s a novel idea.)
- Something you've created, like a drawing or a poem, that tells him that you care.
- A framed photo to remind him of the great times you’ve shared.
- A volunteer to cut the lawn.
- A chance to finish a story about his youth without anyone groaning.
- A loving smile.
- A bear hug.
- A big sloppy kiss.
When all is said and done, while Dad may seem like the strong silent type, his love runs deeper than he can express with words. Instead, he expresses it every day with selfless, even heroic actions. He needs you to take notice. Like all of us, he’s human, but he’s doing his best.
So have a blast on the water slide and gobble that burger with gusto. But on Father’s Day, and every day, remember to let Dad know that you love him…a lot!
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