The reason so many kids have problems buying gifts for dad these days is because they don’t really know who their dad is, or what he likes, or dislikes. The reasons for this are obvious. The modem day family is all about grabbing as much of the material as they can get their hands on, and this means that dad spends so much time at work making the money so that the family can have more ‘stuff’, that he’s rarely seen in the home.
A few suggestions are fine wines (if he likes wine there are no limits to the variety), Cigars, if he's a smoker, office and or travel collections, sports and games items, personalized gifts such as pens or drinking vessels, gadgets and tools (especially power tools!), bags, cases, hats & caps, sunglasses, driving accessories specialist foods, garden, concert…………..need I go on further! You see, buying gifts for dad is limited only by your own imagination.
I once overheard a bunch of friend talking in a restaurant once. Here's what they had to say on the subject: "One of the most difficult people to buy for can be your dad. It's really hard to think of something to buy for a guy who has already lived more than half of his life, and already bought most of his toys during a likely misspent youth. Finding and selecting gifts for dad can definitely be a challenge". Honestly, I've never heard such bunkum!
Like I said before, I think one of the most typical and boring gifts for dad has to be socks. Why are socks one of the first things to pop into folk's mind? I think it must be some strange psychological glitch. Somehow the phrase 'gifts for dad' triggers the response of: socks. It really makes no sense at all, because EVERYONE needs socks at some point, but do you actually choose them as gifts? No, not unless the person is dad himself. Could it be something that happened in childhood that has forever doomed out poor fathers to gift after gift of any sordid variety of socks? Is it something he said perhaps? Whatever it is, it's a very strange phenomenon, you have to admit.
Try to think out of the box. Think, collectibles gifts, or birthday gifts for men instead of 'Dad'. After all, dad is a man too you know! Or you could even make it less specific and think along the lines of 'birthday gifts for him' as that should open up your minds to the male species and not just the adult man. Yes, sometimes dads like toys silly gadgets too! Then there are always the thank you gifts for folks. Thanks for just being dad. Thinking 'thank you' should also open up your minds to a plethora of gift ideas for dad.
Ok, so I've not always been the perfect present buyer I have to admit, but I did learn to think out of the box eventually which is why I've written this piece. Over the years, I have spent a good deal of time trying to dream up the very best gifts for dad. For some reason the second and only place my mind used to go after socks were tools. For some reason dad must need another set of tools. A ratchet set perhaps? Or how about a nice new drill? He may not be doing ANY home renovations or special projects at all. In fact, he may have given up on that nonsense years ago, and yet somehow so many of us think some sort of tool is up there on the top ten list of gifts for dad. The top ten crappy gifts perhaps!!
So what does that leave? Well, the little list of suggestion in the opening paragraph should get your brain cogs moving. I say the one of the best gifts for dad has to be alcohol. That way when he's good and soused he'll think that you're his best buddy friend ever, and perhaps he'll conveniently forget the terrible gifts of the past, and then you can turn over a new leaf!
But seriously folks, dad is father, friend, protector, buddy and always there for us come hell or high water, so let's give a little more thought to his needs and wants when we’re looking for gifts for dad. Start a little list of your own that you can look back on when it's time to look for father's day presents, anniversary gifts for men, birthday treats, and the Christmas box. He's worth it. Good luck!
