I was thinking about the best gift my daughter gave her father on Father’s Day back when she was ten years old (she’s now 25). Actually it wasn’t a gift she was giving her father; she was asking her father to give her a gift. And that was a promise to quit smoking. He did, and to this day I can’t think of a better gift where everyone ends up better for it.
Tomorrow is Father’s Day when lots of ties and shirts will be bestowed upon the dads of the country but how about doing something different this year? In a time when so many in the rest of the world (and in this country) are suffering, maybe the children can lead the way and do something different, something meaningful.
Some ideas for a really meaningful way to celebrate your Dad under the fold.
If you are 18 years of age and haven’t registered to vote go do it.
Give a donation in your father’s name to your favorite charity, politician, local animal shelter, Hurricane Katrina relief, etc. There are so many small and big organizations you can give to; the list is endless.
Make him a great big blueberry pie from produce you bought from a local farmer. You’ll be supporting those who work so hard to bring us the best and Dad will love it!
Take a trip together to a beach or park nearby and have fun walking and talking while sprucing up a place that many enjoy. (I used to do this when my kids were little...we’d bring plastic bags to the beach and once they each collected a bagful of garbage they got an ice cream) And then have a picnic at the place you made just a little bit better.
Put up a clothesline and make a promise to help hang out clothes instead of putting them in the dryer. You will definitely help reduce the electricity bill (ours went down $50 a month when we stopped using the dryer) and everyone’s clothes will smell really good.
And while you’re at it, make a promise to turn off the lights when you leave a room (preferably your light bulbs are energy efficient).
If you’re of driving age and still in school take the school bus to school; unfortunately the days of walking to school seem to be over (I was able to walk to school from kindergarten through high school and it was the best part of the school day sometimes, plus we were able to go home for lunch). Anyway, I digress. Unless you have an after school job ride your bike or take the bus.
Make a coupon book with promises to help out when snow needs shoveling or the garage needs painting. It will mean so much to your Dad and you may just have fun doing some of the chores together.
Give Dad a copy of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. Take time to read them together.
Start a garden http://www.nwf.org/...
so there will be much less lawn for Dad to mow. And you’ll help with the global warming problem and have fun while you’re doing it!
Give Dad something you made with your own hands.
Give Dad a little greeting card http://fathersdayforpeace.org/ that will show him how much you care for all the Dads in the world.
And don’t forget to tell him you love him.