5 Tips to Make His First Father's Day Special
1. Keep it simple. Don't make complicated plans. You both are busy enough adjusting to Junior's endless feeding, napping and diapering schedule without adding unreasonable holiday expectations into the mix. Keeping it simple means less stress for everyone. In fact, most dads prefer a low-key celebration to a big extravaganza. Gary Scott from Sonoma, California, states that his ideal Father's Day is as mellow as a "drive in the convertible to the beach for a picnic."
2. You don't need to break the bank! To make the first Father's Day a wild success, keep the celebration inexpensive. It's common for new dads to feel particularly anxious about unnecessary spending. Go to a thrift store and select a cute tie, or purchase a bottle of drugstore cologne. Dad will get a good laugh. Just keep it affordable: With Mom on maternity leave, it's smart to conserve funds.
3. Consider Dad's interests. What is his favorite hobby? Perhaps, Dad enjoys collecting baseball cards. If so, tuck Junior into the Snuggli and whisk the family away for a day at a card show. Note: Mom scores big points when she overlooks her own disinterest and pursues a holiday activity that Dad will adore.
4. Make him breakfast in bed: No, this doesn't involve you getting up at five in the morning and preparing a feta cheese and artichoke heart omelet. The days of June Cleaver are over, thankfully. Instead, load up on ham and cheese croissants and assorted pastries from your local bakery. Five minutes in the oven and, voilà, instant feast.
5. Create your own Father's Day card. For just a few dollars, you can buy a washable, child safe non-toxic rubber stamp inkpad. Decorate the card with tiny hand and feet prints. Or create a simple pop-up card for Dad. It will be a keepsake that he will proudly display for years to come.
Did you ever wonder how Father's Day began? You may be quite surprised to learn that it wasn't until 1966, when President Lyndon B. Johnson chose June 3 to informally commemorate Dads. Then, in 1972, President Nixon turned Father's Day into a nationally observed holiday. After decades of Mother's Days, dads finally received the official seal of approval.
