For those who did not want to read that too-long article:

The deep story they promised you about the origin of Father's Day is that a girl wanted to celebrate Mother's Day but only had a father.

Fathers get "short-changed" because getting them exactly what they want costs less.

Done.

$20 gift card to a hardware store. Done. Dad's are easy to buy for.

/responsible for bringing down the average spending.

Not sure if this counts as my first father's day or what, but I'm pretty stoked about being a dad in the near future. Our girl is due in Nov. - should be an interesting ride.

/waiting for the snark to commence
//any advice?

specialk111: Not sure if this counts as my first father's day or what, but I'm pretty stoked about being a dad in the near future. Our girl is due in Nov. - should be an interesting ride.

/waiting for the snark to commence
//any advice?

Everyone just makes it up as they go.

fark off subby. Don't project your social ineptitude, poor choosing of mates, and complete lack of common sense on us.

specialk111: any advice?

I will always remember, as teens, we asked our dad what he wanted for Father's Day and he told us a digital watch. He made over 100K a year and he wanted a $5.00 watch. God bless him.

FTFA:
Part of the reason seems to be that moms expect to be relieved of stereotypical chores such as cooking and cleaning up on Mother's Day, but that doesn't always happen.

I don't know any dads that hope for/expect an extra day off work.

Women are as enamored of Father's day as they are about this day: Link (new window)

specialk111: //any advice?

It still annoys my wife that when I changed my daughter's diaper, she's laugh and giggle and it was a bonding time for us. When she'd change a diaper, the girl never played and laughed with her.

Dad's are different than moms. Don't let mom convince you that her way is The Right Way.

Of course I used to tell her that once I'd a girl on her back with her pants off, I'm an expert at making them happy...

Kaymon: I don't know any dads that hope for/expect an extra day off work.

Last year for Father's Day, my wife rounded up the kids and took them to out for the day, leaving me home alone for 6 solid, uninterrupted hours on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

She knew exactly what I *really* wanted...

pounddawg: specialk111: Not sure if this counts as my first father's day or what, but I'm pretty stoked about being a dad in the near future. Our girl is due in Nov. - should be an interesting ride.

/waiting for the snark to commence
//any advice?

Everyone just makes it up as they go.

Pretty much this.

$75 in high-end beer the old man would never spend on himself. Yes, on that one day, I am his favorite son.

We're taking my step-dad out to the shooting range after a 7AM breakfast.

Mom's not coming.

/bang
//bang
///bang

fruitylips: Kaymon: I don't know any dads that hope for/expect an extra day off work.

Last year for Father's Day, my wife rounded up the kids and took them to out for the day, leaving me home alone for 6 solid, uninterrupted hours on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

She knew exactly what I *really* wanted...

Oh. My. God.

I've heard rumors of this, but I thought they were urban legends.

My favorite fictional dad? Anferny Aderson in the the pilot episode of Wikipedia Brown (new window)....or maybe The doctor from Cider House

Probably just take the old man out for a drink or buy him a bottle of scotch. Then a barbecue.

/always wondered why it's acceptable to call your father your "old man" but you would never call your mom your "old lady"

IAmRight: SQLInjector: My favorite fictional dad? Anferny Aderson in the the pilot episode of Wikipedia Brown (new window)....or maybe The doctor from Cider House

Randy Marsh is the greatest fictional dad ever created. There isn't even a close second place.

Maybe Homer Simpson?

I'd give about anything to do something for my dad today. He's been dead since '01.

/dusty in here

specialk111: any advice?



/oblig in this case

specialk111: Not sure if this counts as my first father's day or what, but I'm pretty stoked about being a dad in the near future. Our girl is due in Nov. - should be an interesting ride.

/waiting for the snark to commence
//any advice?

Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for New Dads (new window)

Not really helpful at all, but funny as hell to read.

I actually took the time to RFTA (related: more boring articles). Personally it was always cologne and ties in our house ("colognes" dad never used). The best Father's Day gift I ever got for anyone was a Coach Shaving Kit for my bf. ("best" Coach gifts).

As you may have noticed the article annoyed the hell out of me.

Kaymon: FTFA:
Part of the reason seems to be that moms expect to be relieved of stereotypical chores such as cooking and cleaning up on Mother's Day, but that doesn't always happen.

I don't know any dads that hope for/expect an extra day off work.

as a stay at home dad I got a kick out of your reply

/always wondered why it's acceptable to call your father your "old man" but you would never call your mom your "old lady"

Actually "old Lady" was used to mean your wife or girlfriend. Considering getting old makes a man mature and distinguished and a woman unattractive and unwanted, it's pretty cold use the same descriptor for a woman your same age group as a man 20 yrs your senior.

Father's Day Gift? Leave me the Hell alone. For one Goddamn day, leave me the Hell alone. Take the kids, leave the house early in the morning, don't wake me up, don't come back until midnight. One Goddamn day.

dead_dangler: fruitylips: Kaymon: I don't know any dads that hope for/expect an extra day off work.

Last year for Father's Day, my wife rounded up the kids and took them to out for the day, leaving me home alone for 6 solid, uninterrupted hours on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

She knew exactly what I *really* wanted...

Oh. My. God.

I've heard rumors of this, but I thought they were urban legends.

Guess what? If you send the kids to "boarding school" problem solved!! (How much IS your Sunday worth?)

I was the product of a rape, so every Father's Day I do as good ole Dad taught me: Rape a woman and ruin her life by sticking her with a baby she tries to abort!

specialk111: Not sure if this counts as my first father's day or what, but I'm pretty stoked about being a dad in the near future. Our girl is due in Nov. - should be an interesting ride.

/waiting for the snark to commence
//any advice?

Clean your guns when the boyfriends are over. Show them your stuffed deer head. Show them paper with slightly burned holes placed very close to each other. Smile at them constantly while you do this. Explain to them that your grandchildren will be getting SSI checks after you murder their father. Pretty much what cmunic8r99 said.



/it's a good thing both my kids are boys

I tell my family to keep it simple and treat it like a normal day. Too many other things to worry about. Send my dad his card and a gift card to a store he likes - usually Barnes and Noble or Half Price Books - he loves both.

This will be my 19th Father's Day, and the third with two kiddos. It's been a fun ride. From a social worker to all you actual Fathers out there who actually take care of your kids: Thank you. Your kids thank you, too.

/you don't have to live with your kids to love them and take care of them
//you do have to make an effort

Stupid article-- originally father's day was "refreshingly noncommercial" but now dad's get "short changed" where mothers day people spend ... but for fathers day they spend only....

So- was the old fathers day refreshingly noncommercial or not? You can't say that and then say dad's get short changed and you should spend more!

specialk111: Not sure if this counts as my first father's day or what, but I'm pretty stoked about being a dad in the near future. Our girl is due in Nov. - should be an interesting ride.

/waiting for the snark to commence
//any advice?

Now that I've been snarky, I'll be serious. This comes from a professional social worker, so take it with a grain of salt, as I deal with some of the worst of the worst. I also deal with some of the greatest parents in the world, just not for as long at a time.

1) If you don't become attached and soothe your child as a baby, you won't be able to do so as well as they're older.
2) The success of breastfeeding is directly related to how involved and supportive the dad is, and breastfeeding is better if you can do it.
3) If you meet your child's needs at least half of the time, they will properly bond to you and have better behaviors and more success later in life. Don't sweat when you make a mistake.
4) Everybody feels like they're in over their heads from time to time. Don't feel bad about putting your baby down in a crib and walking away for a while when they are crying inconsolably. It beats hell out of shaking them from frustration.
5) Get a sling for the Mom and learn to use it yourself. They're great. You get to be close to the baby and bond and you have both hands free. Get a real ring sling, not one of those over-engineered things you see in so many places. Pic from 2008 in Big Bend National Park related:



In short: Get your ass involved early and often and unashamedly love your baby.

DingleberryMoose

Ringslings kick-ass!

The moby is really great too, but for some reason it seems to work better with women.

/used ringsling
//wife used moby

Razorwolf: For those who did not want to read that too-long article:

The deep story they promised you about the origin of Father's Day is that a girl wanted to celebrate Mother's Day but only had a father.

Fathers get "short-changed" because getting them exactly what they want costs less.

Done.

Thanks, bud!

/leaves happy

Obligatory: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCixAktGPlg (pops)

When I was ~10 I asked my dad what he wanted for father's day. He told me 'nothing, if I want something, I'll get it for myself'.

This is my second father's day, and the kid's mom can't fathom that I've taken the same tack as my old man and reject gifts. Haven't had a birthday party since my tenth, and don't celebrate any holidays by giving or receiving gifts. Might seem miserly, crotchety, or selfish, but in my mind, when I want to get someone a gift or tell them I appreciate them, I just do it, I don't wait for some pre-defined holiday that derives its supposed sentimentality or extra meaning from mere mass agreement.

Most people like their traditions, I guess I just see them as compulsory and robotic, ultimately stripping them of any true meaning. Any Hallmark Holiday, of course, had no soul from the start.

/Gotta keep that economy going
//Something Else

fruitylips: Last year for Father's Day, my wife rounded up the kids and took them to out for the day, leaving me home alone for 6 solid, uninterrupted hours on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

She knew exactly what I *really* wanted...

Yes.. We know

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