What to give dad this Father’s Day
As we march steadily towards June 15, now is a great time to panic, er, ponder over Father's Day gifts. But as much as I hate to admit, dads are notoriously hard to buy gifts for. After all, the classic tie can only be presented so many times ,which incidentally ranks as the most popular of all Father's Day gifts. Golf clubs and hammers—don't ask—are also popular presents.
Of course, all dads are special guys... even if they irritate the hell out of their other halves most of the time. But if you are anything like some mummies I know (read: my wife), June creeps up and you are left scratching your head.
Fret not though, as I have made a handy list of five gift ideas that will hopefully show Dad that he is number one on June 15.
1. World Cup Football Jersey
With 2014 being a World Cup year, it will be criminal if Dad does not own a football jersey of the national team he supports. Go a step better and purchase matching jerseys for both him and your child. Mother and daughter need not get all the fun when it comes to matchy-matchy clothes, no? Dad will surely be proud to show off his favourite sport and child at the same time!
2. Staycation or short getaway
Personally, I do not expect any Father's Day gifts. (If you are reading this, wifey, please ignore the previous sentence.) Yes, the cliche still holds—as long as my family is happy and healthy, I am happy. But if I am forced to translate it into something more tangible, a short vacation or staycation with the family will be it.
But a short recharge does not necessarily mean breaking the bank account. The UK Agro Farm Resort is about an hour's drive away from Singapore and is Malaysia's largest goat and sheep farm. It is good for a day trip, but if you are looking for a farm stay experience without busting your wallet, this is as good as it gets. Or Lotus Desaru Beach Resort houses a water park within its compound, that will sure to keep the kids (including Dad) happy and entertained.
3. Any men's T-shirt from naiise.com
What can I say about their men's tees? I love them all! You really have to take a look at them—from the retro 'High Voltage T-Shirt' to the plain right bawdy tees, they will strike a chord with dads. Especially if they have gone through National Service.
4. Rediscover Dad's childhood
Want a more heartfelt gift that requires more effort than dollars? Find out where your husband used to hang out back during his school days, the eating places he used to frequent almost every week without fail, or his favourite childhood snack, and relive it together with him and the kids! This will allow him to share more of his childhood memories with the kids and the kids to form a deeper connection in return.
5. 'Keep Calm and Father On' book
If all else fails, there is always the one book to rule them all. Keep Calm and Father On is a collection of 399 quotes from around the world and across time—some of the best things that have ever been said about this magical journey called Fatherhood.
And why quotes, instead of a normal fiction book? Quotes are bite-sized life lessons, so they provide important knowledge that may specifically help dads improve the quality of their fatherhood journey. And because quotes are so succinct, they can sometimes be used to communicate complex ideas in just a few words—words that they can turn to in times of sadness and difficulty in order to find comfort and inspiration. Or perhaps even a few chuckles.
But the real reason why you must get the book as a Father's Day gift is simply because, I wrote the Foreword for the book.
Happy Father's Day to all Fathers and Fathers-to-be!
Kelvin is a Daddy Blogger and is remarkably blessed with 3 kids, 2 terrapins and 1 fabulous wife. Other than masquerading as a part-time superhero to his kids, he loves sussing out the best kid-friendly places in town. Watch him get twirled around their fingers at www.cheekiemonkie.net. Kelvin also co-founded Daddy Matters, an online community of active dads, hoping to learn as well as promote the message of active fatherhood through to everyone.
