Father’s Day:Telling Your Dad Thank You

Father's Day is all about letting Dad know how much you appreciate the hard work (because it is!) that it took to raise you. Dads make sacrifices, teach, take care of your needs, encourage you, and are your friends.

So why, if all that is true, do we end up giving Dad clothes or tools? How about something that means something? Here are some ideas that my intern Derek and I dug up:

1. Sit down and get him to share stories about his life. Before he was your Dad, he was a real guy. I bet there are some that he is bursting at the seams to tell! So, ask. And how about retracing some steps from both of your childhoods, too? I mean physically going there.

2. What did Dad not get to do in order to be a Dad? Not that he was crushed by being with you instead, but it acknowledges that you are thankful you were his number one priority. Did he have to skip a vacation to give you braces? You get the idea.

3. How about taking care of the yard work and chores for Dad?

4. Is there something your Dad absolutely loves? Like a baseball team or hobby? Share it with him and or get/ him something he can add to his enjoyment with.

5. Take him on a "childish" experience. Play ball or catch with him, whatever stuff he liked doing as a kid and then for ice cream! Better yet, if there is an ice cream truck, go for it! You know what I mean.

6. Show Dad, however you want to, that you listened to his advice and took his lessons to heart over the years. Create a tongue-in-cheek presentation with your favorite Dad advice and quotes and show him how you used them. Without a doubt, Dad will tear up.