If your children have a Father and you're the custodial parent, please let your children visit him for Father's day, give him the whole weekend if you can. Do not trade the weekend, let him have the weekend. If your children are small help them bake cookies for their dad and assist them in making dad cards.
You would be surprised at how far this gesture can go no matter if you get along with your ex or not. I realize he is not your father but if your children are too young to drive, they need help with these types of events.
This is something you should do for your children. You're not really doing it for your ex. Just think of your babies little faces when they give their dad their homemade love and it will make it all worth it.
Every Year for Father's Day my girls and I make Snickerdoodle Cookies for their father and put them in the mail to him. He is in the military, so often he is in far away lands. They rarely get to see him much less on Father's Day, but this is such a tradition that even now, when they are ages 21, 17 and 16 guess what we are doing the week before Father's Day.
Yup, making cookies and home made cards! It was difficult for me to do this at first as he rarely returns the favor, but I realized a long time ago this is about my children, not about me. I have to say that once, when he and his wife were in Iraq they sent me some beautiful roses for Mother's day. It really meant a lot, I know it was really her idea, but it still meant the world to me.
If you are a non-custodial father make some plans for father's day to do things with your children. I realize this is “your” day and you're supposed to get to watch sports on TV all day long while drinking beer. However, if your children are small make this a day they will remember happily too. Make plans to go to a water park or other age appropriate event. Go to church together and out to brunch. Make it a happy, memorable day.
If your children come bearing gifts, no matter what they are, wear them, use them, enjoy them. Two years ago my husband had to wear a shirt , to church mind you, that said “It's Easy Being Easy”. The thrill on his daughter's face was worth the curious looks.
If they do not bring gifts do not blame them. Consider giving them a couple of bucks to go into the Dollar Store to pick out a gift. Sometimes you have to do this yourself if you do not have an ex with whom you get along. It's OK to encourage them to get you a gift with the money you gave them, it's OK to get them some construction paper and have them make you cards.
This will make small children feel great and that is what it is about after all. It's about making the children feel great about their lives and their daddy and ultimately themselves because they are part of their father.
If you're a custodial dad then you get the entire weekend with your child, make it a weekend affair. Do fun things from Friday after work until Sunday night. Make Father's day just as important as Mother's day because to the children it really is important. You are just as important to your children as their mother is.
Most of all, parents, get along for the sake of your children. Love your children more than you hate their other parent.
Snickerdoodle Recipe
I have no idea where we originally got this recipe, but this is the one we've used for years, even pre-divorce. My youngest daughter, who is now 16, has especially perfected it over the years.
Ingredients
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add the 1 cup sugar . Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in the egg and vanilla until well blended. Beat in as much flour as you can with the mixer, and stir in remaining flour. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.
Combine the 4 tablespoons sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Shape the dough into 1 inch balls and roll in cinnamon sugar mixture to coat.
Place balls of dough 2 inches apart on an un-greased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 11 minutes or until edges are beautifully golden. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.
These cookies travel well if you need to pack some up and send. Don't forget Granddad!
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