Father's Day is quickly approaching. Admittedly, it comes at a weird time this year. Many families are grappling with a return to normal after being home for months. With all the recent unrest, celebrating something feels a little off.
Despite the chaos in the world around us, it's just as important as ever to celebrate Father's Day. Dads have been doing a lot for their families. It's especially important to celebrate first-time dads.
The first Father's Day is arguably the most memorable one. It's the first time they're celebrated after going through a crash course that upends their life and their relationship. They've learned some tricks of the trade and maybe even mastered a thing or two. Their trademark corny sense of humor is likely settling, to everyone's horror.
You can make it extra special by doing something unexpected or getting him a token of your appreciation he'll never forget. Whether the first-time dad in your life is your partner in your home or a friend far away, here are some sweet ways to make him feel special on his first Father's Day.
Let Him Sleep In
It's something simple, but it makes such a huge difference. New dads, especially ones who are doing right by their partners and equally splitting the workload, are running majorly low on sleep. Being well-rested will make all the other moments of the day that much better.
Surprise Him With Matching T-Shirts
There are so many hilarious T-shirt and onesie combinations that you can get for dad and baby. Amazon and Etsy offer so many funny sets that you can definitely find something that matches your family's sense of humor. The matching outfits are a cute and lighthearted way to mark the day for all to see.
Start a Tradition
Father's Day is a great time to start an annual tradition for dad and child. Think about activities dad likes but doesn't get to do a lot. If dad's a movie buff, you can watch a film on a projector while you picnic. If dad loves sports, watch a game together. If he's an outdoors guy, go for a scenic walk. The traditions may change as your kid gets older, but the memories of the early years aren't ones he'll ever forget.
Get Him His Favorite Food
Whether dad's a foodie or he just has a favorite food he doesn't get to enjoy often, making his favorite meal happen is another way to make him feel special. Any diets or meal plans are canceled for the day so that he can indulge. Have some extra fun by taking a picture where it looks like baby's taking a big bite out of dad's favorite food.
Make a Cute Keepsake From Baby
There are countless heartwarming ideas out there for crafts that parents can easily make for dad from baby. Whichever one you go with is sure to be special to dad. Here are some super-sweet ideas we found:
Get a Personalized Gift
If you want to pick up something special for dad, there are a lot of ideas that are personalized. It's an extra touch that makes dad know he's at the center of this special day. Here are some cute ideas:
- Custom playing cards with dad’s favorite photo with baby
- “Flipping Awesome” custom grilling tray
- “Love You Beary Much” frosted beer mug
- Custom monogram whiskey glass
- Family tool kit
Let Him Enjoy Some Alone Time
Since you became a household of three, chances are no one's gotten a lot of alone time. Considering how much time everyone's spent at home this year, it's more important than ever for dad to get some time to himself. Even just an hour can make a huge difference in helping dad recharge.
Look Through Pictures
It's important to make memories together on dad's first Father's Day. You can also take some time to look back on some of the memories already made. It can become a nice tradition to look back and remember some of the best moments of each year of fatherhood.
Reenact a Photo From Dad's Childhood
A fun trend of re-creating pictures with different generations of a family has emerged. Father's Day is the perfect time to give this one a go. Find a favorite picture of dad with a male figure in his life. Duplicate it to the best of your abilities. You can even gift a copy to that person!
Leave Some Time for Him To Take Charge
It may be tempting to schedule a lot of fun-filled activities for the day, but make sure to keep them from taking over. You want Father's Day to be about what dad wants as well as celebrating him. That means some time has to go unplanned to allow him to take the lead. With an open mind and an open schedule, you can make it happen.
