Dads are pretty easy to please on Father’s Day. You don’t have to take them out to brunch, or buy them flowers, or get dressed up … not for most of the dads I know. No, mostly what you have to do is remember to call them … and give them the “present” of being left alone to do some of the things they LIKE to do (or joining them in those activities, if you like them, too).
Most dads I know like to spend Father’s Day messing with their hobbies, or watching sports on TV, or playing golf, or something that really isn’t a “family activity” … though the family is MORE than welcome to participate. My dad likes to watch the U.S. Open golf tournament on TV.
My mom used to organize big family grill-outs on Father’s Day … but really, I think that sort of RUINED the day for my dad. He then had to be the host, and grill the dinner, and spend time socializing … when all he really wanted to do was watch the golf. By the time I was a teen, though, my mom realized that rather than making him happy, these days prevented him from getting the present he REALLY wanted. (I suppose it’s possible he TOLD her this directly … but given the communications patterns in our family, that seems less likely.) Anyway, from that point on, the Father’s Day BBQs were cancelled … and all-day golf viewing became the family tradition.
Even now, I make sure I keep up with how the tournament is proceeding and watch half an hour or so of it BEFORE calling Dad. That way, when I’m wishing him a Happy Father’s Day, I can ALSO talk to him knowledgeably about the tournament … and across the many miles separating us, we can watch the live broadcast “together” for a few minutes. And THAT seems to be EXACTLY the present he wants most.
So Happy Father’s Day to ALL the dads out there! May your families be intuitive enough to KNOW what you want out of the day … and kind enough to let you have it!
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