I am writing this on Father’s Day so by the time you read it you might think, too late, maybe next year, but I have to tell you, celebrating your dad doesn’t have to wait for the third Sunday of June.
I grew up celebrating Father’s Day with homemade cards and fun gifts for my dad. Mostly a bag of Brach’s candy because that was his favorite. It never occurred to me that Father’s Day was a holiday that almost wasn’t. I assumed because Mother’s Day was a huge deal that Father’s Day was the same. But as it turned out when I researched this article dads really didn’t want a day of recognition. They wanted peace and quiet. That was enough for them.
A woman named Sonora Dodd proposed the idea of Father’s Day in 1910 because she was one of six children in her family that was raised by a single dad. She thought there should be a “Day for Dads” and discussed it with her pastor. This holiday never really took off until 1941 when Macy’s decided the best Father’s Day gift was a tie. Yes, the tie saved Father’s Day. People started buying ties by the thousands and it is still the number one Father’s Day gift to this day. Father’s Day became a national holiday in 1972. I have to admit my husband has received several ties over the years; my dad however has only worn a tie when it was necessary for a wedding and came as part of the tuxedo rental. I do not believe he actually owns a tie.
I remember one year when the kids and I thought the perfect Father’s Day gift for Mike would be a black lab puppy. We had him sit in a chair, close his eyes and Zoë planted the puppy squarely on his lap while the boys danced around saying “Happy Birthday, Happy Father’s Day.” I videotaped the magic moment. He just kept saying “Sandy No!” as if I could take it back after we’d all fallen in love. That was 14 years ago and we have this amazing old girl Lakota still getting excited at the sight of a ball.
I was thinking of the more creative Father’s Day gifts that could really show our dads how much we love and appreciate them, not just one day of the year, but all year long. It comes down to this: words. These are the best gifts for dads. Saying thank you to him for all he does. Daily saying I love you even if he’s the “tough guy” that doesn’t say it back. A handshake, a hug, and a smile are all that most dads really want. Is that so hard to give?
“My father didn’t tell me how to live. He lived and let me watch him do It.”
~ Clarence Budington Kelland
Taste of Home columnist Sandy (Anderson) Holthaus lives on a farm in South Haven, MN with her husband, Michael, and their children Zoe, Jack and Ben. Her heart remains on the North Shore where she grew up with her parents, Art and LaVonne Anderson of Schroeder. She enjoys writing about her childhood and mixes memories with delicious helpings of home-style recipes.
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