What kinds of gifts do we give Dad? Well, we give him things he really needs like socks and underwear, or more aftershave, or a new pair of gloves.

Sometimes we give him things so he will behave better. For example, a pedometer because that might make walking more fun and he really needs the exercise.

And then there’s the gift we give because we couldn’t think of anything else, like a carving set even though he’s never whittled a single stick.

Maybe we think he’s a tired bored lump. What do we know about Dad? There are some clues. What are his favorite TV shows? Why does he like them? What does he listen to on the radio when he’s driving his car? Does he like to fix things? Does he have a hobby? What are his favorite foods?

Yes, I’m implying that you might not know him very well. Here’s a few things to try. Drag out an old photo album and go through it with him. Try to really listen. Let him talk about how he saw the events in that album. You might be surprised by what’s important to him.

Ask him about his job, even if he’s retired. What makes him proud? How was he valued? I bet he knows more about your job than you know about his. You need to fix that.

What would he really like to have?

Perhaps there’s a book about something he likes to think about, or a subscription to a magazine. Have you discovered his taste in music? How about a CD. The more you learn about him, the easier gifting will be. He loves you, you know.