by Mario Depeine Sr

Created on: June 14, 2008

Father's Day is a day where fathers need to feel that they are honored and that they make a difference. So, as we think about Father's Day gifts I believe that it is a good idea to keep that in mind.

I will give you a quick top ten list of gifts that I think would be special for the "dad" in your life. I will start with number 10 and work my way "up" to what I believe should be the number one (1) gift idea.

10. An article of clothing (tie, sweater, shirt, etc.) will always be appreciated and worn (at least once). Be sensitive to your dad's taste, don't go too far out of his "comfort zone."

9. Electronics - perhaps dad likes things like an Ipod, DVD player or a flat screen television.

8. Give him a gift card to his favorite store. It could be the Home Depot ( www.homedepot.com), Lowe's (www.lowes.com) or Best Buy (www.bestbuy.com). Of course, the more you know about your dad, the better the gift card selection will be.

7. If he is good with his hands, get him tools for working around the house or on the car or if he likes to read, get him books (do it yourself, fiction, or self-help, depending on his interests).

6. Take a special trip to where your father grew up, this will prove to be a great bonding experience. You could visit his elementary school (s) and find out what that was like. You may visit a favorite playground and hear him relive some of his moments as a child. You will undoubtedly learn a lot of things that you otherwise would not have known.

5. Prepare and have a special party or dinner in his honor. Find a way to get his special friends and close family there; people who will make the time special. My siblings and I did that for my father's 70th birthday and he was really surprised and grateful to see people he hadn't seen in a while.

4. Have the children make a special meal that he likes. Of course, they will need some coaching.

3. Have the children make "dad" special cards that express specific things like, "10 things that make my dad special," or "10 things that make me proud of my dad," or just how dad has mad a difference in your life (older children of course). These cards will always be a treat to reread and appreciate for times to come.

2. Video tape the family saying "special things" about "dad." Be sure to say specific things that expresses appreciation. Put a special picture on the DVD and place it in a case and gift-wrap the whole thing.

1. The number one gift idea for dad is...give him the special cards, video tapes and be sure to express a few things, in person, live, about what you appreciate about your dad and make sure that you tell him that you love him and that his presence makes a difference in your life! So many people hold back and unfortunately miss the opportunity to say the soft things that have always been there, but were not expressed.

Learn more about this author, Mario Depeine Sr.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.