Fathers Day Gift For Dad-To-Be?

Add to any gift a list of the reasons why you appreciate him. Perhaps have it inscribed on a wall plague.

Please don't get a joke card. In my 20+ years of working with fathers, it has been rare that a joke card that makes fun of his abilities is really appreciated.

I wrote this to "Dear Abby" for Father's Day, March 19, 2005.

APPRECIATION FOR JOB WELL DONE IS WHAT FATHERS WANT TO HEAR

DEAR ABBY: Today is Father's Day, so why don't we try to do more for dear old Dad than give him the usual greeting card that promotes the idea that all dads are imbeciles, followed by a collect call to see what he thought of the card. (Father's Day is the day when the most collect calls are made.)

We should treat our fathers the way we treat our mothers on Mother's Day and show them we appreciate them for being there. Yes, you probably tell your father all the time that you love him, but the minds of men work differently. Anyone can say "I love you," but as men, knowing that we are appreciated for a job well done is what really gets us teary-eyed.

Something else you can do -- especially you sons out there (but daughters can do it, too) -- is to make sure Dad has been to the doctor for a checkup, including depression screening. This can go a long way toward making sure he's here on Father's Day next year.

I wasn't raised by my father, but by a stepfather. Although we did not see eye-to-eye on many things, I would not be the person I am today if it were not for him. This man, who spent years climbing on top of heavy construction equipment to prepare the ground for many of the homes, businesses, roads and highways of Southern California, now finds it difficult to get into a car. Although none of the houses or roads have his name on them, they are all testaments to his life and the lives of men like him.

So today, let's do something extra for Dad, without him pulling out his wallet to pay for it. -- George McCasland, Overland Park, Kansas

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Remember, there's a lot of us fathers sitting in nursing homes whose children live too far away to visit. Contact an activities director about volunteering Sunday morning. Read a list out loud about why you appreciated your father.

Print out a photo of you two together, at the back, list 20 things about him that you love, and why he will be the best dad ever.

Stuck the photo in a box of 14 black socks like this, as the child come he won't have time to look for mismatching socks again :)

Just an idea, you can find this box from ohmysock.com

The grill would be memorable....if you want to be more meaningful have a plate laminated with his name on it.''TEDS Grill''. It might sound Korny, but it's been a long 9 months for both of you. It's ok to get something that does not seem for an appropirate occassion. It's a gift.... a gift he will always remember and always use.

Buy a scrap book, Title it Daddy and me and Start if off with ultrasound pictures, and after the Baby is born let dad and Baby make memories to go into the book, It is something they will both cherish for a life time.

get him a custom apron with something funny on it.

like

"daddys alone time" (when he's grilling)

haha, that's not THE best one, but something along those lines would be pretty sweet and is nicely paired with the grill as a gift.

Men love grills! Lol my hubby got one for Christmas, he was stoked!

Maybe do something memorable with an ultrasound photo! frame it with a poem or something along those lines!

the grill is a great idea.. but lets see what can u get the dad-to-be? something not original like a card and a gift card to his favorite spot.. humm let me see.. what does he like to do what are his hobbies go long those lines..

or u can take him to his favorite resturant.. or cook him a nice meal at home..

My husband and I are out door people. I was 6 months pregnant with our son during father's day, I bought him a child-sized tackle box that was the same color as his that would technically be for our son. My husband thought it was great.

Make him a special meal or take him for a day out.

Anything really. Maybe go for a picnic or to the beach and return home for a nicely prepared dinner.

Buy a picture frame and put an ultrasound picture in it so he can keep it on his desk at work or on the night stand next to the bed.