www.loisgreiman.com
It’s just about Father’s Day. Again?!
Excuse me, but didn’t we just have one of those about 12 months ago? I’m sorry, I don’t want to seem uncharitable, but I’d be willing to give up a Mother’s Day now and again (I’m a little iffy about demanding appreciation on one specific day of the year) if we could nix the same numbers of Daddy’s days.
It’s not that I’m ungrateful. Really. I’ll be the first to admit that a good father is worth his weight in platinum, but am I alone in thinking that men are impossible to buy for? I don’t have the faintest idea what to get my husband.
I mean women are easy. I can always think of something to buy a female friend. Clothes for instance. Or jewelry. Or candy. Or perfume, or any of a dozen other girly things. But men--the Mars to our Venus--what do you get them after 30 years of for better or worse? Not clothes…he’s not interested. Definitely not jewelry…he’s not the type. Candy…nope. Scents? He’s allergic.
So we move on to hobbies. He’s got a couple, but honestly, if he’s interested in something he’s probably already purchased everything remotely associated with it.
How about the classics then…watches, billfolds, ties? If he had any more of these we’d have to move out or rent storage space.
So what say you? What are you getting the fathers in your life? Have you ever been inspired with a really terrific idea? Did it work out or was it a flop? Was it a tangible item or was it something more personal? Help me out here. I fear I may be gift challenged.
27 comments:
I am with you, only the dh's birthday is the day AFTER so I have to figure something out anyway. I really wanted to get him an iPad but he nixed the idea. I got him shaving gear, because he likes to shave with a safety razor, so I got him a new razor and a badger bristle brush, and a wallet.
My dad, I'm giving a gift certificate to a restaurant and my step-dad is getting a Star Wars boxed set.
I'm with you....not a clue!!! I'd be happy to trade Mother's Day AND Valentine's Day (and possibly a few others) to skip Dad's Day. I'm just that magnanamous!! haha. My daughter is making a picture frame....her decision, AND a repeat of last year. Clearly, my unoriginal DNA has spread to the offspring!
Okay, I've had this idea for some time. . . to arrange a portrait of the kids together on the beach or something. Or a portrait of my fella and his two kids (and maybe me)together. Something he had look at and we can display alongside all our other earlier pictures. But son is in the Navy in SanDiego and daughter is all the way across the country. . . maybe it would be easier for others to do this, assuming that their kids are more local.
Otherwise, it's a card, a yummy breakfast and whatever books he might like to read. I got him an e-reader for Christmas and gift cards to book stores are always good.
A new gas grill that Lowes or Walmart will put together. I don't usually spend that much, but the one we have right now won't light properly. One year, I got him mulch. No lie. I usually ask for suggestions if I can't come up with anything.
My husband needs some new shirts for casual wear and darned if I'm not finding many in the stores. His shirts have to have at least one pocket, so most T-shirts are out. Button-down shirts are either dork-noid-looking or always denim.
My dad is easy. We usually get him a bag of chocolate stars because he loves chocolate. (Just like we get him a box of chocolate covered cherries every Christmas.) We will also get a gc from his and my mother's fave local restaurant.
Tickets to a concert or a play.
I would love to see classic artists like: Eric Clapton, The Moody Blues, Bon Jovi, etc
Plays: RENT, Wicked etc
Make a romantic dinner at home followed by a special activity
A getaway night/weekend out of town... big city or a cabin in the woods
Hiking or biking in a park, rent a canoe, picnic outside, read a book together
My husband and I both hate to shop so we don't do gifts. We make favorites for dinner and spend the day together.
Ack, you've touched on my growing panic, Lois! On Father's Day we usually have my dad and his parents over to grill out. This weekend we will be heading back from a four hour trip, though so it's going to require some juggling.
My husband is the world's worst to buy for. He buys his own clothes and scent. I get scolded for buying tools because they'd tax deductible if he buys them himself. He doesn't have any hobbies...help!!!
Panic is right. My dh goes out and buys everything he wants pretty much the moment he wants it. LOL Sad, but he's picking out his own gift this year!
My father's birthday comes shortly after Father's Day. Frankly, I was delighted when we reached the point where it was, "no more gifts." He has everything he wants, and if he doesn't have it, he can afford to buy it. So a card and a phone call are all he needs to know he's been remembered and appreciated.
So glad to hear your guys are as hard to buy for as my guy.
It's always tough. Every once in a while an inspiration strikes me and i feel like I've scored a touch down!
Does your DH like flowers and plants? Seriously, I often buy Tom a shrub or a bush or a plant for our perennial gardens. He's a gardener so he really likes getting it. I've bought him trees before too :o) Not too exciting or romantic but it seems to work.
Hmm, am I the only one who doesn't buy the hubby anything for Father's Day? Because he's not, erm...my father. You know? Never have bought him anything (except for kids when they were little).
I usually fix my Dad's favorite dessert. Or fry him a chicken. He's of the "way to a man's heart is through his stomach" variety.
yuck. that's what I have to say about it. double yuck because dh's birthday falls ON father's day this year.
He wants some hunting gizmo. I'll either give him money for that or spring for a new computer that will cover father's and birthday in the same swipe.
Mother's day was so easy for him. I bought an ereader a couple days before, called him up and said thanks for my mother's day gift!
I'm looking forward to the days when the kid starts making our mother's and father's day stuff.
A couple more suggestions from me. A beer-of-the-month club membership. I got this for my husband for Valentines Day, except I got the seasonal membership which delivers specialty microbrews 4x a year. So far, he has loved it. Another possibility is sports team wear. Can be college or pro.
I'm sorry I'm so late commenting, but it was really fun reading your comments all at once. I laughed all the way through.
Here is what I've learned: I am not alone. Yay!
But some of you are really impressive...as if you thought about Father's Day ahead of time or something.
Krisgil, I don't think we have to be held accountable for our children's lack of gift imagination. Do we?? Please no.
Betina, great idea. Save it for later.
And Leanne, mulch. One word: GENIUS!
Okay have combed through the Sears and Best Buy ads to come up with a few ideas I'm mulling over.
a universal remote--they actually have one that handles 15 different devices in the house. Only concern is that I'll never learn to use it.
flip camera--much cheaper than the movie cameras I buy him, only to have him drop or lose them yearly.
power washer--okay, I'm the one who wants it but it'd be handy, right?
A small flat screen TV for the kitchen that could also be taken outside on the patio. Leaning toward this idea.
One of those LCD picture frames and then have the kids bring their memory sticks to download pics on it. Come to think of it, I have one around some where that someone bought me. Maybe I'll regift it on his birthday next month!
Keri, I would be thrillllllled if my husband would pick out his own gift and just call to thank me. You are one smart cookie.
I usually buy tools or a gift certificate to Sears.
Ooh, Kylie, universal remote!! Good idea, what man doesn't want to dominate the universe??
Here's what the kids bought him: a fire pit for the patio that is emblazoned (haha) with his beloved Iowa Hawkeyes logo. I'm guessing I can't top that. And the boys made my daughter run it by me for permission first, because they were afraid I'd say it was 'too tacky' to go on my patio, LOL. Gotta love having sons!
No flippin' clue over here.
So, I'm thinking...dinner! LOL!
Lately we've gotten to where we just go have a nice dinner at one of our favorite restaurants for most occasions.
We tend to buy what we want when we want it instead of waiting and saving up a "gift wish list."
If I buy something extravagant, I say, "Look what you got me for my birthday, honey!"
There's such a thing as too tacky, Kylie. Wow, someone should have told me that a long time ago.
The dh loves his power washer I got him a few years ago. Originally I got him the less expensive one at Costco. Someone borrowed it, it broke and was almost new. So bought the more expensive one instead. I think he likes his blower too, but you guys probably have that. Here in SoCal it can be optional.
I bought the dh (who has a bday the following week) a new retractable leash for the dog. But I need bday ideas, so am reading commments with avid interest.
Lois, since we're into the grandkids stage, I think I've used up all the gift ideas. I've been making photo collages (I use Snapfish) and he's building a gallery of them in his office. They're easy and fun to make, and I do think they please him as much as anything. Along with a steak.
Michelle, never fear - I don't buy my hubby anything for father's day either. When my daughter was young, I did, but these days she is grown and purchases her own father's day gifts.
Stephenia and Michele...no gifts...I'm liking it.
I don't buy my husband gifts for Father's Day either, but I do take the kids shopping to pick something out.
This year we are probably getting him a new Android phone because his Blackberry has gone bonkers and all of us are tired of hearing about it.
Either that or we'll get him that new Sony Dash thing. Looks cool and even I wouldn't mind having one around the house. And aren't those the best gifts...the ones we eventually claim for ourselves:)
Post a Comment