Father's Day is just around the corner! It's the perfect opportunity to celebrate dads of all kinds and let them know how appreciated they are. Fathers come in all forms and factors: dads, stepdads, adoptive dads, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, cousins and friends. Here are a few special ways that you can celebrate the dad in your life this year:
- Write a heartfelt letter
Whether or not they like to admit it, dads usually have a soft and sentimental side. Take the time to sit down and write all the wonderful things you love about him. Maybe he taught you how to ride a bike when you were little or how to drive a car when you turned sixteen. Maybe he fueled your passion for a certain kind of music or art. Father's Day is a great reason to let the dad in your world know just how much every one of those moments mattered.
- Create a photo album
Living in a digital age, there's something special about having tangible memories to look back on. Whether it was a youth sports event where your dad was holding you up with your winning trophy or a loving moment shared at your wedding, he's been there through it all! Find photos on your phone or social media that remind you of precious moments you've shared together. Add an extra touch by writing inside jokes or dates to look back on as you flip through the pages.
- Spend quality time together
At the end of the day, what matters most to the dad in your life is spending quality time together. Go grab ice cream together at his favorite local shop! Go on an afternoon stroll through your neighborhood park to get some fresh air. Go grab some sandwiches and have an afternoon on the beach or lake. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, as long as you’re together.
- Plan a special outing
If you want to treat your dad to something extra special, find something unique to him that puts a smile on his face. Find tickets to his favorite band or favorite sports team. Plan an afternoon fishing or hiking or museum trip. Go explore a new city together and find a restaurant with a cuisine that he loves. Father’s Day gifts don’t always have to be over the top, but every once in a while it’s fun to surprise the dad in your life with something special.
We asked a few dads at Evenflo what being a father truly means to them:
Eric P.
“Being a dad and having a positive impact on my kids’ lives is the biggest thing in my world. Other things are important, but fatherhood was always my dream. It’s living this dream every day that makes life worthwhile.”
Alberto R.
“As a father of an 18-month-old and another child on the way, I think how did I get here? Not to this point in my life, but when did I become the adult responsible for another life? When did I become a teacher, a mentor and a protector? When did I get so much anxiety? When did this capacity for unlimited love grow? When did a smile freeze time and a cry accelerate it? The answer is, it’s all when I became a dad. When I became a dad, I became more than myself. I connected to another through love and reciprocity in the purest form. Being a dad to me means connection. Connection to my child’s mother, and the connection of one generation to the next.”
Troy W.
“Fatherhood has been the most profoundly rewarding experience of my life. While endeavoring to teach my daughter everything I know, I have learned from her a multitude of things I didn't know. It is truly a process of growing together in pursuit of becoming our best selves.”
Despite the inevitable bumps along the road, being a dad is one of the most rewarding experiences. This Father’s Day, take a moment to reflect on how your dad has influenced your life. The moments you’ve shared together will always be cherished.