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Moving from Son Mode to Father Mode for Father's Day is weird.
As a son, you have a pretty good idea of what the role of a dad is. And while dads are notoriously tough to buy for, you at least have an idea of what you could get or do for your dad to make the day special.
When you move from being a son to being a father, Father's Day hits differently.
First, and maybe this isn't for everybody, I didn't feel like it was my day. When the first Father's Day rolled around, I still very much felt unqualified to have the title of "Dad." At that time, everything was still SO new on Father's Day Number One (my twins were born in May; Father's Day was in June), we were still in Survival Mode, not necessarily Parenting Mode.
Those first few months were just all about figuring out the absolute basics:
- How to hold and feed two babies at once.
- Functioning in a zone where you never get more than three hours of continuous sleep because the twins need to be fed every three hours.
- Assembling baby toys, installing and removing carseats, building baby furniture, and realizing most of the things in your home are a hazard to infants, so you gotta move or get rid of much of what you own.
But like any important job, if you stick with it, you get more comfortable. You learn the environment, the big tasks, and eventually get into your zone.
So, now that I'm heading into Father's Day Number Three, I feel like I've got just enough experience to be able to contribute some helpful knowledge for those who are looking for some inspiration on how to make Father's Day special.
Father' Day Gift Ideas For 2024
Of the three things I'm going to suggest, this is probably my least favorite. But it's also probably the one that will help the most people, so here we go.
Dads ARE notoriously hard to buy for, because (and I'm generalizing based on my own experience) when we see something we want, we can usually justify purchasing it. There are definitely exceptions for something that feels like a luxury or isn't immediately practical (sure, the current BBQ cover looks like it went through a meat grinder, but it's still doing the job), but, overall, dads already have the necessities for their day-to-day operations.
When it comes to Father's Day gifts, maybe take a look at stuff Dad already has and think about what things could go with these items. Here are a few examples.
Tech Accessories
Apple Watch Strap
If Dad has an Apple Watch, chances are he's just stuck with the band that came with it. Introduce some variety to his look by giving him a classy, new watch band, so he's not wearing the athletic one to someone's fancy wedding.
Retro Gaming
Nintendo Switch Online Membership + Expansion
Nothing beats the nostalgia of revisiting a game from childhood! If there's a Nintendo Switch in your house, then consider getting Dad a pass to unlock all the favorite games from his childhood. Important Note: To get access to all of the games catalogue (including N64 or Game Boy color), you'll need to get the version of the membership that includes "online expansion." Money well spent!
Mobile Gaming
BackBone One Controller
Gaming on iPhone specifically has gone next level! The titles you can access on iPhone 15 Pro are amazing! Like stuff you would've needed a console for in previous years. Gaming on mobile is impressive, but nothing beats having real buttons to play those games. I wrote a whole article about why BackBone One is the best controller for gaming on iPhone. There are versions that work for iPhone15/Android phones and ones for iPhone 14 and older (click here for that one).
BBQ & Smoker
Rib Rack For Smoker
There's a point in some dads' lives when they get super into grilling and smoking delicious foods. I unlocked that mode before even becoming a dad. A smoker is expensive, so it can be tough to justify all of the little accessories to go with it. That's why those accessories make a great gift idea. I just got this rack that you can use for smoking ribs. It's simple, but I like it a lot, and it works on a variety of smokers.
e-Books
Kobo e-Reader
There are plenty of ways to enjoy digital books. Your phone is fine, but having an e-Ink screen is much better. These simulate the look of paper, they're easier on the eyes, and you can set them to adjust the lighting temperature, so you can fall asleep easier after reading in bed. I like Kobo because it allows you to borrow e-books from your local library, saving you lots of money. I have this one, which is an excllent size to hold comfortably in one hand.
Fancier e-Reader
Color e-Reader
I also have the new Kobo Libra Color. This is an e-ink screen WITH color. It's cool if you think Dad will want to use this for reading graphic novels. This model also lets you buy and listen to audiobooks on the device (or borrow them from your local library), and it has support for a sylus, so Dad could use this as a digital notebook, as well.
I do a TV segment once a week about tech and video games. None of the things I mentioned above actually made it into the segment this week (I'd featured all of them in past segments), but here are some extra ideas from Geeking Out:
Experiences
This is the idea I like a lot more than just a regular gift. As mentioned, dads have a lot of stuff already. So, rather than get them more things, it would be WAY better to go out and DO something with your dad.
This can be super small, like a walk to the park, a drive to an out-of-the-way burger or ice cream stand, or a visit to a museum or place that you know exists in your city or town but you have never visited or haven't gone to in years. This doesn't even need to happen on Father's Day...just tell Dad you've got this planned for a certain day and go for it!
Where I live (Winnipeg, Manitoba), there's a company that does a train tour to a small town north of the city. We did this trip with our boys and my dad last year, and it was a summer highlight! The experience of the train ride was fun, we explored the little town at our end-destination, and had some really good hotdogs for lunch!
Traditions
Of all three ideas, this is the one I like the best because it builds on Idea Two (an outing) and also takes the pressure off of Father's Day gifting forever!
Come up with a Father's Day tradition that you can do each year! This can be as elaborate as you want (an annual golf day, a fishing trip, a spa visit) or something much smaller (a pancake breakfast at home, an annual Father's Day picture in the same location, buying and building a different LEGO set together…I'm spit-ballin', here).
This is easy enough to tailor to your dad's interests. It can fit any budget, depending on the scale you do, AND you get a test round because if your first idea for a tradition doesn't land, you just don't need to tell anyone it's supposed to be a tradition until you know it's going to be successful!
Time with Dad is most important
As I'm getting further and further into this fatherhood thing, I'm really starting to see that when dads say things like, "Oh, don't get me anything," they really do mean it. This can be frustrating and unhelpful because you WANT to get your dad something to show that you care. And maybe a gift is gonna be the right way to go.
But the idea of a Father's Day tradition AS a gift might be the ultimate route, as it gives dad what he wants most: a chance to build memories with his family.
Read more
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