I can remember each and every little special moment I had with any one of my kids. From the instant I stood there and watched my daughter turn from a gray, blue pallor to a fresh pink and white glow with her first breath of fresh air to the instant I said good-bye to my son just the other day on the telephone when he called just to talk. Every single instant is a treasure, every word is a gold nugget, and every "I Love You" is a diamond in my crown.
What helps me remember is my collection of things my kids made me throughout their coming of age; coupon books, cards, remote holders, wooden ducks, wooden puzzles, gavels, they are all there. I keep them all because they are such a big part of my life. I do not take the little things my kids do or say or have done or said lightly. All of it shapes me and helps directs my life.
Toddlers are special in their innocence and their desire to make Mommy and Daddy happy. That's all they want is for everyone to be happy. They do whatever they can to make that happen. Their little surprises they make at school or at home are a part of their effort. Generally Mom has to help a little bit when it comes to Father's Day but the end result is evidence true of a gift from the heart of your toddler. Some of my favorites have been;
10) CANDY BOWL: I love candy and nuts and all sorts of little treats like that. My kids have always known that. On year my daughter made me a poster board bowl and filled it with the things she knew I liked best. The bowl is easy enough to make, it ends up looking something like a box but as long as it stays together and holds the contents Dad will love it. Decorate the outsides with anything the toddler cares to cut out of brightly colored paper. Long after the contents are gone Dad will remember it.
9) PHOTO PUZZLE: Blow a photo of the toddler up to at least 8 X 10, larger if possible, then have the toddler cut the shapes out of the picture. Let the toddler cut anything he or she wants to. Try to guide them into keeping the puzzle fixable. That is, make sure it can be put back together again. Don't cut pieces so small they will get lost easily. Also don't make every piece shaped like the next one. Have the toddler cut animals and shapes that can be recognized and can be put back together again. The prize when Dad finishes his puzzle is the toddler looking up at him. Believe me, that is a treasure.
8) PHOTO MAGNET: I have lost my photo magnets of both of my children but I did have them for many, many years. You can buy business card magnet stock at any office supply store. One side of the stock is sticky once you remove the protective paper. Have your toddler select a picture he or she really likes then pull the protective paper off, stick the picture on, trim the excess away and you have a perfect refrigerator magnet.
7) CERTIFICATE: Always great is the "World's Best Dad" certificate. Blanks can be purchased at your local office supply store and your toddler can fill in the blanks. Some of them even have an area where the Toddler can say why his or her Dad is the World's greatest.
6) PHOTO BOOK: This one will call for some extra help from Mom. Go through your collection of photos and select at least one from every age of your toddler. Make a little booklet out of simple typing paper, about a quarter sheet size. Paste one picture on each page and have your toddler write in how old he or she is in the picture. Have the toddler design a brightly colored cover for the new photo book and sign it on the last page and watch Dad as he glances through this little wealth of memories.
5) POSTER: This is a good idea to see just what is on your toddler's mind. Get a large sheet of white poster board. Give the toddler a set of colored pencils or pens or felt tips even and ask them to "very carefully", you want to stress "very carefully" because the size of the poster board could be overwhelming and they may not know what to do. If you remind them to "very carefully" draw their thoughts they will be more apt to end up with something that both you and Dad can treasure forever.
4) CARD: Cards are always special, especially the ones drawn, colored and put together by the hands of your toddler. The card can say anything and can be decorated in any manner your toddler likes. Simply take a plain white sheet of typing paper, fold it in half, then fold it in half once more and you have a quartered folding card. Have your toddler color and decorate the card as much as they want. Be absolutely sure to include "I love you Daddy." Someplace inside the card; that is the gift.
3) STORY: My Son was just a little more than a toddler, perhaps nine or ten, when he wrote his first story about his Dad. I had to include this one though because it had such an impact. Mom could even help the toddler write the story. Ask your toddler to explain to you why they like Daddy. You may have to draw a story out of them but work at it. See if your toddler can tell you anything. Just let them talk in their own words and their own heartfelt, innocent emotions. You will be surprised what comes out and Dad will be blown away.
2) TREASURE BOX: Cigar boxes are not so prevalent any longer but a little box of any kind will work just fine. If you buy Velveeta cheese for instance, the box it comes in will work great. Decorate whatever box you have selected with bright paper of some kind or pretty cut outs from the toddler. Have your toddler select their most favorite possessions of all, the ones that will fit in the box. Explain to them that they should only pick the things they want to give to Daddy. Have them place their treasures in the box. Throw in a few things that Dad likes, candy bar, gum, sucker and so on. Close the box, wrap it up with a ribbon and give it to Dad. Your toddler is giving his or her heart to Dad. Dad will know this when he opens his little treasure. Your Toddler will be all over Dad explaining what it is he has just been given. What a moment!
And the number one Father's Day craft that a toddler can make?
1) COUPON BOOK: Anyone can make a coupon book. You know the kind I'm talking about; "good for one back rub," "good for two kisses," "good for one getting you a glass of water." Anything goes here. Anything your toddler is able to do and is willing and wants to do for Dad should be in this little coupon book. I recommend taking the plain white sheet of typing paper and cutting it into eight equally sized pieces. They end up being about the size of a real coupon. Cut as many as you anticipate the toddler wanting to fill in. Eight is a good number. Have the toddler do as much of the writing as possible. Staple all coupons together, color the cover real bright and pretty and there you have it. My favorite is the coupon my son gave me that was "good for 1,000,000,000,000 hugs anytime I wanted one." I have collected on that one over and over again. My son is 27 years old, I get to see him next week, I intend to collect on that coupon at east a dozen times during that visit.