Well moms, our day is a thing of the past (Mother’s Day that is). Whatever hopes, dreams, or expectations were exceeded or left unmet, let’s put it behind us and honor our husbands/partners/baby-daddies with the love they deserve. We all know mommin’ ain’t easy, but guess what? Being a dad isn’t a piece of cake.
So how can you show a little extra appreciation for your man this Father’s Day? With the help of my husband, who I promise is as difficult to shop for as they come, along with a couple of ideas I was excited to have thought of on my own, here are five Father’s Day gift ideas for the special dad in your life.
No matter the gift, I highly recommend hand-making your cards, with the help of your children if they are old enough to hold a crayon. It saves money and we know dads don’t often care about the Hallmark love notes anyway. They would much rather you write and create something from the heart, with the cute scribblings from your children.
5 Gifts for Dad
*These are listed from least expensive to most expensive so you can gauge the best options based on your own budget.
1. Framed photos or other personalized photo gifts
I ordered a few of these desktop plaques from Shutterfly with our most recent family photos for my husband’s desk at work. I am so happy with how they turned out and there are countless options in terms of size and design.
Other fun customizable items from the site are travel mugs and ceramic mugs (I’ve done both and the quality is great!), computer mouse pads, and pint glasses.
SnapFish is another great photo site to check out with similar options. And with websites like these, you can always find coupons online to save upwards of 50%…or more!
2. An act of service of any kind
Wash his car. Take care of a household project that’s been put off over and over again (for us it would be a deep clean of our baseboards and crown molding that are covered in dust, don’t judge). Cook him his favorite meal and follow it up with his favorite dessert.
3. Plan a day date of lunch and a hike
Yes, that means you need to hire a babysitter (this is direct advice from my husband!). You may be torn wondering if your husband should be spending Father’s Day doing fun things with his children or enjoying some quality time away from them. And maybe your husband just wants the big happy family to be together all day.
But just like us moms need a break, chances are good that your husband would appreciate an afternoon without mediating sibling arguments, fixing things up around the house, or blowing bubbles in the baby pool with his toddler. So hire the babysitter, grab a casual lunch at his favorite spot (let me recommend Mozzo or Mex 1) and take a hike at one of our local county parks or the Francis Marion National Forest.
Or take a trip to another side of town you rarely get to visit (examples: The Angel Oak Tree on Johns Island, the Battery and Waterfront Park downtown, or one of our many local plantations). Check out our Ultimate Guide to Date Ideas Around Charleston for even more ideas!
4. Coffee maker or another appliance for his office
I am very excited about this one, but I realize it will not be fitting for everyone. It totally depends on your husband’s work situation. But I imagine there is something he could use at his office that you could get for him and maybe this will spark an idea for you!
My husband works in a small office of just four men and they don’t have a coffee maker. Often times if he is lacking energy in the afternoon, I will be mid-sip of my afternoon cup of joe at home when I get a text that reads, “I’m so sleepy.” Unfortunately, there isn’t much I can do to help him. Until now! I bought him this Hamilton Beach coffee maker and will wrap it up with some coffee filters and a new bag of his favorite grounds.
5. Boat Charter or Fishing Trip
Pricey? Yes. Worth the splurge? Yes. For those of us who don’t have boats, getting out on the water is something we don’t take for granted. Go big with a harbor cruise or fishing trip and you are sure to win Wife of the Year award. You can even cut your costs by going in with another couple or two and split the fees.
There are several companies around who do charters, but in my quick search, I found Charleston Charter & Yacht, High Tide Harbor Tours, RedFin Charters, and Charleston Sailing Charters to name a few.
