Father’s day. The day when dads get beer, socks and comedy underpants then spark up the barbie for a feast.
I don’t really know why we choose to stereotype dads so much in this, the age of equality. Luckily they never complain and just get on with it. Laden with useless gadgets and a wacky tie, they simply suck it up and smile. Can you imagine us being so gallant? We can barely hide our menacing grins when those garage-bought chrysanthemums rear their ugly heads (yet again).
Have you looked at what the shops have on offer for Father’s Day? Gadgets, alcohol, underwear and sport just about sums it up. Anything straying outside of these boundaries is deemed ‘off piste’ and inventive.
I may mock but in truth, I have tried and failed to come up with anything other than the norm. I just cower and blame the children these days. How could dad be mad if those comedy boxers were chosen by his little cherubs?
When a friend of mine smugly declared she had shunned the stereotypical high street dad deals and bought her husband some top of the range mudguards for his top of the range bike, it was met with a chorus of envious “ooohhh”’s. Until we realised, as ‘out there’ as it seemed, it still fell within the category ‘sport’.
The friend confided that she had only bought them because he had already spotted his usual pressie in the car boot – a selection of real ales – which falls within the category ‘alcohol’ take note.
He had rolled his eyes and smirked knowingly. No doubt he’ll be chuffed he’s made not one but TWO categories this year! Woo-hoo!
There must be men throughout the land with stockpiles of never been used Bart Simpson underclothes and novelty substandard, department store gadgets.
They either couldn’t give a monkeys or are laughing their crazy neon socks off at our lack of understanding.
“Why don’t we get as good a deal as mums do?” they may secretly cry. It’s a fair question. Why don’t we buy them spa days with their fellow dad friends? Or send them out to Sunday lunch with their sons? Afternoon tea maybe? In the 21st century, what a man can do a woman can do and oh, er, vice versa!
But the truth is, for all those rolling eyes and knowing smirks, they happen to love real ale, sporting paraphernalia, gadgets and underwear (less of the novelty variety thank you very much).
So all in all, we need not stress about inventive, unusual presents. it seems the high street knows our men much better than we do. Bart and a beer it is!
