This Holidays

Writen by Rose Ida Taharim

Dad, father, daddy, papa - whatever you address him, he is such a great person in our life. Many of us look high upon our dad. He is someone of whom we are sometimes afraid (especially when we have done something wrong), someone we ask advice, someone who taught us how to ride a bicycle, someone who gave us courage and someone whom we disagree with. Though Dad did not show his love directly to us and seldom expressed it, but deep inside he always loves us.

Special day for Dad: Dad's Birthday, Father's Day, Wedding Anniversary

This year tell your dad that you love him. Tell your dad how special he is. Surprise him. If you have not done this before, this year is the time for you to surprise him. Be different this year! Make an early preparation for your dad's birthday or father's day. My gift ideas suggestion for dad on his special day are:-

• Be back home on his special days, just the same as you do for mom. Give him a surprise by coming back home without informing him first, if you are no longer staying with your parents.

• Give him a big hug and tell him that 'I love you, dad' as well wishing him Happy Birthday or Happy Father's Day or Happy Anniversary.

• Does your father have a specified hobby? For example, fishing, playing golf, or carpentry? Well, why not you give him a brand new fishing rod, or a brand new club for his golf, or buy new carpentry tools to add to his collection.

• Does your dad love to drink coffee, smoking pipe or cigar? Get a gift basket which fills in with all his favorite things. Coffee that he loves, new pipe with his favorite tobacco or a box of cigars(better not – it is better for him to quit smoking) together with his favorite bath care products.

• Buy him another tie or socks or buy him a shirt with his favorite color. Guess this is not a very good gift idea since it is just a common gift. Better think of something else. Perhaps better go for something more personalized. Something like T-shirt printed with a picture of his grandchildren or a picture of yourself.

• Subscribe to; or renew, his favorite magazine.

• Buy him a ticket to his favorite sports game. E.g. ticket to the baseball/football game or golf tournament.

• Do you know his favorite music? Classical music, jazz or ballads? Well, you might get him one of his favorite music CDs, adding to his music collection.

• Bake for him his favorite dish, cookies or cake. Dad does miss your cooking, especially from those not staying with their parents anymore.

• Throw a surprise party for Dad.
If you never ever did this before or have not done this for quite sometime, you should throw a surprise party for him together with all the family members and invite his old friends and colleagues. You can get some party planning ideas and advice from any party planner.

• Sometimes you can hardly hear your dad complaining about his needs. The only source that you can get some info is from your mom. Be more alert and open your ears.

• A plague on which is written "Father of the Year". It is something for him to be proud of, knowing his family appreciate him as the head of the family.

• If you really can't go back home to your dad on his special day, do give him a call! There are lots of telecommunication companies providing low call rates.

• Lastly, if your dad is a net savvy, better still, send him a personalized online greeting. You can pick any design from the Internet.

A real gift for dad is the time that you spend with him. Go out fishing with him, or go to the baseball/football game with him, or just play card games with him, or a childhood monopoly game - to make-up the time that has been missing between you.

Rose Ida Taharim is the web master of My1StopOnline.com, a website totally dedicated to gift giving ideas. For more articles and information, please find out more at http://www.My1StopOnline.com.