June 16, 2007

Oh dear, it’s Father’s Day again. I bet you nearly forgot. I’m sure you’re stumped for a way to show your good old dad just how much you appreciate him. Well, the first step along that road is to get to know him. Fathers are a strange species. They cannot all be pigeonholed into one description. They come in a large variety of sizes, shapes and colours; it is a shame that we cannot have more than one. Here are a few examples of the fathers available: (Note: they are not exchangeable)

Sporty Dad
This is possibly one of the most common kinds of Dad. They will buy a football, and tiny little football boots for their newborn child, regardless of whether it is a boy or girl. They will send their child to gruelling team practices every afternoon. They will quiz their child on cricket trivia instead of times tables. Dinner will be eaten in front of Manchester United vs. Chelsea on TV. As time goes by, he will try and prove he is still as young and fit as David Beckham. Whatever you do, never disagree.

Father’s Day ideas: Organise a family sports tournament, sports clothes, cake shaped as a cricket bat.

Techno Dad
Despite the computer-geek reputation, this sort is actually rather cool. He’s the kind that buys the latest ‘ipod’, the biggest TV, the hottest car, the niftiest laptop, and the most expensive camera. And of course, with the sheer amount of technological gadgets flooding the market, one is never enough! So every time he buys a new mobile phone, he passes the old one off to a lucky kid. If you have brothers or sisters, find ways to become ‘The Favourite’ so it is always you who gets these hand-me-downs.

Father’s Day ideas: ‘Ipod’ case, computer accessory, visit to computer exhibition or car showroom.

Intellectual Dad
If you possess this brand of Dad, you will appreciate him more as you get older. He might seem boring when you are younger, especially when all your friends get a ‘PlayStation’ for their birthday and you get a dictionary. Trust me, a dictionary is far more valuable than a videogame. This dad will send you to the best school he can afford, and make sure you’re well informed about what’s going on in the world. While he might not crack jokes, or play much football with you, he is, nonetheless, an amazing dad to have.

Father’s Day ideas: Books, books, books, visit to museum.

Handy Dad
Beware, he is the kind that will rip a door off the wall, hammer four legs onto it and call it a table. He will always have a drill in his back pocket, and wish he was a carpenter instead of an accountant. He can be a lot of fun on a sunny weekend when all you want is a tree house.

Father’s Day ideas: Toolbox, workman’s overalls, book on carpentry.

Amongst the countless celebrations between New Years Day and Christmas Day, Father’s Day goes largely unnoticed. Perhaps it is because fathers generally lack the sentimentality that goes with such occasions, or more likely, they would rather not admit to it. Either way, with the hordes of poems, cards, and fables dedicated specifically to mothers, it leads one to wonder just why fathers are so often taken for granted.

Fathers are perhaps less cuddly than mothers. They use the ‘L’ word (love) more sparingly, and therefore it is returned even less frequently. They’re probably not the ones who read you a bedtime story and tuck you into bed at night. It is the unique few dads that ‘baby-talk’ to you in your early years. Spending most of the day at work, fathers tend to be far less involved in their children’s lives; stay-at-home dads are rare, whereas staying at home is commonplace where mothers are concerned. A common misconception reduces fathers to merely a source of financial support, as opposed to mothers who provide emotional support.

Don’t fall victim to these stereotypes. Never let your father think that he is nothing more than a cheque book. It isn’t difficult to let your father become a stranger. Talk to him. Learn from him. Get to know him, his past, and his hobbies. A father can be your hero in his very own way, whether you admire him for his strength, his goodness, his achievements, or just because he is your father. Always remember, he wakes up in the morning and goes to work in order to give you the best life that he can afford. He might not buy you that ‘PlayStation’, and he might not be the funniest dad in the world, but he will want the best for you, he will protect you, and he will be there for you at times when you least expect him to, and need him most. He will love you unconditionally; it is what defines his role as a father.

Above all, never take your father for granted. It would be a shame to blink for a demi-second too long and find out that it’s too late to say, “I love you abba”. So, for this Father’s Day, if nothing else, show him that you appreciate him and that you care. For him, it would be the greatest gift to hear a sincere voice speak, “I love you”.