The Best Ways To Say “I Love You, Dad” On Father's Day

Father's Day is coming up, and you may wonder how you can show your father that you love him. Everyone has had a father—they're one half of the equation needed to create life, after all—but not everyone has the luxury of still having their father around or being on good terms with him. If you're lucky enough to have a father you love still with you, Father's Day can be a very special day.

You may wonder about some meaningful ways you can show your father how much you love him. In this post, we'll share some ideas for how you can let your dad know how much you care—and, as a bonus, we'll give you a little history of how the Father's Day holiday we know today came to be.

The history of Father's Day

Most of us are familiar with Father's Day, but few of us have bothered to look up its origin. Why have we dedicated a day to celebrating fathers?

The celebration of one's fatherhood has been present since the Middle Ages. It has a religious origin, involving Saint Joseph, who had fatherly traits. The celebration of Father's Day in the U.S. is thought to have been brought to the county by the Spanish.

At first, Father's Day was a Catholic tradition. It became a secular holiday through women who felt it was important to celebrate fathers and legislators who picked up the cause over time.

The first Father's Day was in Fairmont, West Virginia, but it went relatively unnoticed because it was held only locally. There were a few other attempts. In 1910, Sonora Smart Dodd wanted to celebrate her father, a single parent of six. She planned to celebrate on her father's birthday, June 5th, but because the YMCA where she wanted to hold the event was booked, she had to postpone to the third Sunday in June.

Father's Day was recognized by President Woodrow Wilson, who spoke at a celebration in 1916. He enjoyed the holiday and wanted it to be a national holiday. Congress disagreed, fearing the commercialization of the holiday. Father's Day became a holiday celebrated in Spokane, Washington, along with a few other places, but it faded in popularity in the 1920s.

When Dodd, the original organizer, became busy, the event dwindled. A decade later, she returned to her efforts to celebrate Father's Day as a country, and she worked hard to create a national event. She partnered with companies that sold goods associated with fathers at the time to help spread the word and publicize the event.

By the end of the 1930s, she was able to promote the holiday to Americans nationwide. It was a few decades, however, before the country started to love and celebrate the holiday consistently.

Finally, in 1966, Lyndon B. Johnson released a proclamation making the third Sunday of June Father's Day. Richard Nixon signed the bill making Father's Day a national holiday in 1972. Father's Day was now officially recognized.

What to give your dad

For Father's Day, how can you say "I love you" to your dad? There are many ways to do this. Here are just a few suggestions.

Give him a gift

Father's Day is a good excuse to buy something your father will love. Every father has different tastes. Giving a gift isn't about money, but rather a way to let your father know you're making a note of what he likes and thinking of him. This can be a great option if you and your father don't live near each other.

Take him out to eat

Many dads love a hearty meal, and those dads may also appreciate a good night at a restaurant. It doesn't have to be super fancy, and sometimes, cooking food at home can be wonderful alternative. Think about what your dad loves to eat and make it happen.

Spend a day with him

Sometimes, a dad just wants a day with his child. Visit your dad and spend the day with him. Find out what your dad would like to do and make a plan to spend the day doing it. Whether it's fishing, going to a play, or just sitting and watching TV, your dad will appreciate getting time with you. Life gets busy, and we can forget to do the simple things with our fathers.

Just show you care

Sometimes, you can't visit your dad on Father's Day for whatever reason. This is okay. Acknowledging your father and telling him you love him is a good way for him to realize how much you care about him. Call him on the phone and have a good conversation. Send him a card through the mail. If you can contact him, do so and let him know you're thinking of him.

Remember the good times

If your father is no longer on this earth, dedicate Father's Day to reminiscing about him. Think about the good times you had with him. Think about what kind of father you'll be if you're a man who wants or has kids. Use Father's Day to celebrate the life and love of your father.

For those who are having father issues

Not everyone is on good terms with their father. Whether their father was someone who was not involved in their early life, or he just drifted apart due to disagreements, not every Father's Day is going to be happy. For those who are disconnected from their father, there is hope.

While there are cases where you might not want to reconnect with your father, some people may want to work on repairing their relationship with their dad. One way you can do so is to talk to a counselor at Regain, who can help you work through feelings and issues you may have about your relationship with your dad that can support you in your efforts to reconnect. Regain offers matches with licensed therapists who can meet with you alone or with you and your dad—or whoever you want to work on a relationship with. This online therapy platform is both affordable and convenient, as you can meet with a therapist anywhere you have an internet connection.

Online therapy can be a wonderful way to repair a connection with people who don't live in the same location. Together, online, you can meet with a therapist at a time that works for everyone. Online therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy when repairing an interpersonal relationship is at stake.

Takeaway

No matter how you choose to say it, your father will appreciate being celebrated on Father's Day.