A memorable Father’s Day

One year for Father’s Day, I got a colorful tie with Winnie the Pooh, Tigger and a pot of honey. Another year, I got a coffee cup to take to work. Over the years, my kids have surprised me with a more than a few “Father’s Day Breakfasts in Bed.” 

I’ve enjoyed all my presents, but the best Father’s Day gift I ever got didn’t come wrapped in a fancy box and didn’t require a ton of money. Several years ago, my kids were all home — my oldest daughter was home from for the summer after her freshmen year of college and my sons were home too — and they decided to surprise with me with the gift of time.

The kids woke my wife and myself and we enjoyed breakfast together in our kitchen. When we were done eating, instead of everyone running off to do their own thing, we stayed and talked. We talked about big things, like college and current events, we talked about little things, like the weather, and we just talked. I don’t remember a whole lot of the conversation. I can’t barely remember what I talked about yesterday, forget about five or six years ago. I just remember how the banter and conversation made me feel: special. They were all getting older, they had close friends, they had teachers, but my wife and I still mattered in their lives.

Everyone talked, no one dominated the conversation, and the laughter came easy. I specifically remember my two sons making fun of my positivity jar – you know what I’m talking about, one of those jars where every so often you put in a positive thought or memory and place it in a jar and review the contents come New Years Eve or some other special day. I think they called me Dr. Phil or Tony Robbins or something silly like that. When I finally looked up at the clock, I saw that one hour had led to another and another and another. Before we knew it, we had spent four hours just relaxing and chatting around the table.

I have many interests and a few expensive tastes, but out of all the gifts I’ve gotten over the years for Christmas, my birthday, or any other special event, I can’t think of a better gift.

We still have a few days until the big day this weekend in the U.S. . . . but, Happy Father’s Day.