A popular question that makes the rounds every Father’s Day is, ‘What do you get a man who has everything?’
Research shows that a lot of dads want nothing more than the love and appreciation of their family. They would like to spend quality time with their loved ones, create memories, and have a nice meal together.
A material present isn’t that important, especially to older dads, but something handmade or homemade will be appreciated more than a generic item off the rack, no matter how expensive it may be.
Now that you have the basic framework of how he would like to be celebrated on Father’s Day, you can set about tailoring the day to your dad’s unique interests. Here are 4 ideas to get you started.
- Go nostalgic
Older people love to reminisce, and research shows that that the act of telling others about one’s meaningful past experiences can be very healthful for senior adults. Reminiscing is a cognitive activity and noted to have a positive response on brain function, social interaction, and decision-making processes in the elderly.
You may be familiar with Dad’s favorite reminiscence already. Maybe he scored 4 touchdowns in a single football game in high school, or ate a mind-blowing pastrami sandwich the one time he visited NYC, or maybe it was when his dad took him to the movies to see How the West Was Won.
Whatever Dad’s memorable moment may be, paying attention to his story is half your work done. All you need to do now is take Dad back to the moment.
Walk with him across the old high school football field and have him describe exactly how he scored the 4 touchdowns. If going to the deli is not possible, ask if they can send Dad’s sandwich over.
As for the time he went to see How the West Was Won, go one step further than just watching the movie together by…
- Give the Hollywood treatment
Photoshopping Dad into the movie! Video editing programs have become really simple to use nowadays and with so many tutorials available online, with a little time and effort you can do the job yourself.
If you are looking for more polished results, you can hire skilled video editors for a small fee and they will put Dad seamlessly into any movie, or into a collection of his favorite scenes from different movies.
Then, gather the family, set out the snacks, press ‘Play’ and wait for the moment Dad appears on screen in his big Hollywood debut. Be sure to have your camera poised to record his undoubtedly delighted reaction!
- Handmade and homemade
Clothing was the most popular gift for Father’s Day 2023, and you can make a wearable gift extra special by making it yourself.
Many dads would love a handmade present and wearables are such a wide-ranging category that you can make anything from a knitted sweater to a patchwork quilt, depending on your level of skill.
Your gift may not have the finesse of a professionally made, storebought item, but it will be a testament of your love and appreciation. The hours you put into creating it are a powerful statement of how important Dad is to you and it will be cherished all the more for it, wonky imperfections included.
- A nice meal to wrap it up
Or better yet, to start the celebrations.
Dad may have to stick to a special diet because of his age or his health conditions, so his favorite T-bone steak followed by buttermilk pie (also known as chess pie) might not be the best idea for dinner, even if it is this one time only.
This is because a heavy, rich, calorie-dense meal before bed can bring about digestive problems, cause acid reflux, and disrupt sleep, especially in senior adults who may not be in the most robust of health to begin with.
But that doesn’t mean you have to skip it altogether. Talk to Dad’s doctor beforehand and if they give the go-ahead, treat Dad to the steak and pie for breakfast. This will allow plenty of time for digestion and additionally, if anything untoward does happen, you’ll be there to make Dad feel better.
And finally…
Give Dad a hug and tell him ‘Thank you’ — for doing the best he could, for believing in you, and for showing you how much he loved you when he couldn’t say it in words.