Father's Day comes on the third Sunday of June each year. A day for celebrating dear ol' Dad, granddad, and any other significant father figures of our lives. For grandparents, it's a great opportunity to further your legacy efforts. Father's day is such a personal holiday that focuses in on the family core, so what a perfect time to have an affect on your grandkids! Often regarded as a day for special treats for pop, a golf or fishing getaway, or maybe a homemade card...but us dads know it differently. Sure, all those niceties are great! But the day can also achieve an impactful annual reminder of our purpose; a chance to self-reflect and course correct where needed.
My grandfather once told me that there are two kinds of people: those who work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group; there was less competition there.
--Indira Gandhi quotes
Grandfather's have the opportunity to play a special role in the raising of the grandchildren. Mind you this may not be when there's a wet or soiled diaper that has arrived. How quickly that little one gets handed off to more capable hands with a quick "I had my turn!" or "I put in my time!" And, in many regards that's a grandfatherly earned right. On the other hand, for today's father, he best not try the same technique...
Every generation revolts against its fathers and makes friends with its grandfathers.
--Lewis Mumford
And therin lies one of the great points of being a grandparent...often you do have more "degrees of freedom" to enjoy the sweetest moments of parenthood, with less of the daily chores that come along. (Not to diminish the wonderful grandparents out there who ARE fulfilling both grandparent and parental duties...God bless you!)
For grandfathers travelling down the road of life, there've been many exciting twists and turns. (An occassional flat tire too.) But when blessed with the entry of grandchildren, life becomes amplified. Sure, you've earned your little luxuries. The avoidance of wet diapers, and so on. Indeed, you are enjoying the comfort of first class accomodations while your kids (the new parents) are behind that see-through curtain back in the coach section, and dealing with the crying toddler. (Sweet little angel that she is.) But, in the end, you're all travelling down the same path together. The plane is headed to the same destination.
Except there's one thing you have more of....perspective.
You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was.
--Irish Saying
And it's terribly valuable to your children and grandchildren. Sure, the parents might not "get you" at times or they are too stubborn to change. But, your influence remains, sure and steady nonetheless. To your grandkids, pop-pop is king. The man who can fix anything. The man who has stories of real adventures galore. The man who is adored without question.
The average man will bristle if you say his father was dishonest, but he will brag a little if he discovers that his great-grandfather was a pirate.
--Bern Williams
At the very moment in life when we not only have more time and resources, along with the perspective from dozens of life lessons...we get grandkids. And, that's not by mistake. Are you using your time and perspective to leave a legacy?
On this page, you'll find a number of new and creative ideas to connect with your grandchild. Whether you are browsing for something special for a father in your life, or as a father to others, there are ideas here for you. Make this Father's day special with a connection to your little ones, and also take time to re-energize your life purpose.
Ideas for Father's Day
What would Dad want?: We all are so unique in our value sets, and the most common mistake when it comes to gift-giving is to think from the perspective of our own eyes. To become a truly skilled gift-giver...really make an effort to take time and think about your recipient. What would Dad want? Start at a high level. Is Dad longing for a grand family gathering? Or is he in need of a getaway on his own?And based on whatever's going on in Dad's life or even his personality type...let THAT sway your direction. Try to ignore the thoughts on what YOU would like IF you were Dad. Look in the mirror! Unless Dad's looking back, the perfect gift idea will take a little thought. But with practice, putting yourself in your gift-recipient's shoes will become easier. Here is a collection of ideas which may or may not strike a chord (with DAD!)...
Legacy Planning: As a father, perhaps you've already come to the insight of your great opportunity and life commitment to your children...the passing of your greatest life lessons. Maybe you're even well ahead of the pack and made efforts to create a legacy. But don't beat yourself up if you haven't taken action yet. In golf we call it a mulligan when our tee shot hooks embarrassingly into the woods, and we'd like a do-over. It IS father's day after all. Call a mulligan, and take time to work on your legacy. Visit the Create Your Legacy page, and take a single action. Pick any action that is of interest. Perhaps it's the self evaluation of your personality. Perhaps it's printing out the Free worksheet. No matter how small the step, just take one. You'll be one step ahead of most...
Electronics: Many dads love electronics. I admit it...heck I even like lamps. Anything with a plug on it really. For some reason, it carries a certain manly fascination. Perhaps your guy would love to get involved in taking digital pictures, but needs a push to get started. Why not pick up a Digital Camera or Videocamera for Father's day. It's a great gift for other electronics dads, and is a sure-fire way to encourage him to build connections with the grandkids. After all, who do you think he'll be snapping shots of? (Just be sure to temporarily "misplace" his camera should you happen upon the clothing-optional beach on that upcoming cruise...)
Computer: Okay, you caught me...still stuck on the electronics bug. But, occurred to me that really the grand-daddy of electronics is the home computer. And, one of the very reasons that more people are not into digital photography or video editing is that most people are still using computers that are excruciatingly complicated, and unnecessarily frustrating! PCs....ugh! September 2007 I converted to Apple MacIntosh...and have never looked back. Sure, at work I'm obligated to use a PC, but never again at home. Apple users really do LOVE their Macs. Want an example? This website would not exist if it weren't for my iMac, just like the link below. Everything including digital photography and video editing becomes much easier, and as Mac users are fond of saying..."It just works..."
Create a Memory Treasure Chest: My wife found a neat little book which we gave to our dad's last year. In it, there are several leading questions to ponder. From little intricacies to deeper thoughts, the books sort of pull from you your life story and greatest lessons. Many of us are not gifted writers, and these great books provide a tool to capture the magic anyway. Here's a couple options to consider. Not only does this make a great gift for grand-dad...it's a gift that may become treasured by several future generations...what a spectacular Legacy building device!
Tisket a Tasket:Now dad wouldn't really care for a gift basket, right? Well, not so much the flowers and heart-shaped chocolates that might pop to mind...but check out this selection of Basket gifts just for him...
The Great Escape:If the father in your life would really long for some quiet time away from it all...give him just that. If his golf clubs have been getting dusty, call his favorite course in advance and reserve a tee time. Or if he's the fisherman type, set up that charter boat reservation he's been talking about. Hunting lodge? Bowling? Hiking in the woods? Whatever his great escape might entail, give him a guilt-free green-light to take a break.
The Grandchild Adventure: Maybe instead of time alone, pop-pop is really longing for more time with the grandkids. What type of adventure would he be imagining? A camping trip. Perhaps taking the kids fishing, or to the beach. Perhaps that family vacation you never have time to plan (or agree on!). Travelling makes for great grandchild - grandparent memories, so take action when you can...don't let great opportunities like those pass right on by. If the grandkids are too young or the plans too extravagant for now...do a practice run for when they get older. Setup that camping tent in the backyard. Make sure pop-pop has the camping essentials...firewood and smores ingredients are really all you need for backyard survival. And, be sure to check out the great gear at BassPro Shops for your guy's outdoor adventure needs!
Grandparents are there to help the child get into mischief they haven't thought of yet.
--Gene Perret
Some Movie R&R:Perhaps your family guys are into the movie scene. Why not treat them and the (other) kids to an afternoon matinee. Or, pick up some great Father's day movies from the selection below.
Grandchild Prep for Dad: Maybe a great way to connect with your grandkids around Father's day is to help them prepare some surprises for their unsuspecting dad. Check out some arts & crafts ideas, create a home-made card, or make a silly picture collage with a bunch of hand-written messages for pop that the kids come up with. Help the dad (your son or son-in-law) uncover his potential legacy themes by having the kids write an "I love you because..." letter. What a great way to foster a deeper family understanding of each other's uniqueness.
A Night Out:Once kids arrive in families, it's a rarity for any of the adults to enjoy a night out at a nice restaurant...let alone do so together without the kids. For Father's day, why not plan an evening for the parents and grandparents to enjoy each other's company in a restaurant sans the kiddie menu? Don't have a reliable friend / neighbor to babysit...check out this option:
For the new Grandfather: Maybe the new baby is still a bit young to be writing letters to his young dad. So, why not give it a whirl yourself. Anything you'd like to convey to your son/son-in-law on his first Father's day? Fatherly insights. Encouragement. Funny stories. Wishes of support. As a new Grandfather, contemplate how your role in life has just shifted. What changes in yourself might be pending? For some mental and physical guidance on getting started, check out the Expecting Grandparents page.
Write a Grandchild love letter:Kids love to hear stories and they have two favorite topics. 1) Themselves and 2) Stories from their parents and grandparents of when they were kids. So here's a twist on father's day. Like a true dad, put the focus on the children...after all, isn't that what Fathering is all about? Write a letter that highlights the special talents in your grandchild. If you already have a legacy theme in mind, use your letter as a reinforcing tool. Remember, the right words are incredibly powerful and legacy super-chargers. A few hours invested of your time could produce a letter that will be treasured forever.
My dad taught me to switch-hit. He and my grandfather, who was left-handed, pitched to me everyday after school in the back yard. I batted lefty against my dad and righty against my granddad.
--Mickey Mantle
Books on Fatherhood
Every now and then we all need a refresher course or dose of inspiration to stir our fatherly instincts. Kick our greater good into gear again, and renew our purpose. Here you'll find a number of highly recommended books on fathering. Many are for new dads, but the content equally applies to grandfathers. For one of the many joys of grandparenting is to "hit the reset button" and have a second chance at greatness. Fathering your children or grandchildren is for many the ultimate contribution. You'll also find books that can help you mine a reflection on life so far...books that ask interesting questions. What lessons and legacy themes might you pass along? For the guys in your life, any of these books would make a great gift...
Few things are more delightful than grandchildren fighting over your lap.
--Doug Larson
Movies for Dad and Granddad
Let's face it. Dads love to laugh, and are often quick to laugh at themselves. So is it any wonder that tribute movies to dear-old-dad often paint him in a role thats ripe with comedy? The guy who's trying his heart out, never seems to quite get it accomplished as he planned...but in the end, who always knocks it out of the park with his family. Whether it's a serious drama or goofball comedy...there's one thing about dad that always seems to ring true. Deep down, great fathers have a moral compass that's locked on their kids. They execute their plans with awkwardness and many stumbles along the way...but they HAVE a plan. And, that's what fatherhood is all about. Can you see your dad or grandfather in these flicks below? Pick one up as a great gift today...
One of the most powerful handclasps is that of a new grandbaby around the finger of a grandfather.
