Photo: Her and her father being too cool for school way back at her first Christmas.
Father’s Day today in Australia. All the usual traditions were observed in our house. Breakfast in bed, underpants and chocolates for presents, self-made card by toddler, telling your Daddy what you’re giving him for Father’s Day long before the day because you’re too excited to keep it a secret.
Followed by.. the long drawn-out discussion of what to get his father for Father’s Day. We do this every year for every Birthday, Christmas, Mother’s day, and Father’s day event. He can never decide what to get them and anything I suggest he finds problems with. I’ve finally learnt to disengage from the process. Your parents, your job to come up with a present for them. But he tries to find ways to draw me back into making suggestions for him. So this was our conversation this morning.
You’re lucky, your father left. – Him.
(We’re on friendly terms now but I don’t observe Father’s Day with my father).
Yeah, that was great for me. – Me.
I mean it must have been horrible in your childhood, but it’s paying off for you now. – Him.
Me laughing.
Easy. Until I was 18 my Dad got chocolate for every birthday, Christmas and Father’s Day. Now he gets booze. I alternate between posh beers and good reds. I’m thoughtful like that.
Mum likes Baileys. If I can’t think of anything else, I thank the stars they live around the corner from a very large bottle shop and pick up something on the way there.
kate – you made me laugh. Unfortunately his renegade brother already gets everyone alcohol for their presents, that spot is taken. He likes to boast about how he does his entire Christmas shopping in one hit in the bottle shop.
My brother does it too. My parents have never complained… perhaps that’s not so good. One of my aunties rang the bottle shop on Christmas Eve a few years ago and asked them to make some selections because she’d been held up at work and would struggle to get there before closing time. They cheerfully obliged and had everything sitting ready in a box on her arrival.
I announced a few years ago that I was only prepared to buy Christmas presents in two trips – the bottle shop and Readings books and music (and dvds). Anyone who doesn’t want something from either shop had better give me a URL to a mail order.
Oh, and I’m not always slack. I gave the bloke a quilt for Father’s Day. It’s not finished, but I’ve done enough for him to get the idea. If his son slept more during the day I’d get it done.
I am cracking up at the dialogue!
Ah, the “you’re lucky your father was not around to mess you up and then demand presents” argument. Hard to resist. And always good for a laugh.
I do have a stepdad, though. And the booze idea is perfect for him. Thanks. My dad likes the beer kind.
Happy Father’s Day to bluemilk’s partner.
Theresa
[...] bluemilk reflected on some fathers being easier missed than others. [...]