06 May, 2009
A few random Mother’s Day gift-giving tips/ideas for the Dads
Posted by andrea tomkins in: Oh! Things!
Over the past few months I’ve learned that there are a lot of guys who follow the Fishbowl, which is strange considering that the audience I picture in my head is made almost entirely of female faces. I have been told by several local moms that it’s actually the husbands who are the biggest readers here. (Yet it’s the women who tend to comment. Dad lurkers, this is you chance to step forward and say hello!)
Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and it occurs to me that many dads suffer the double-whammy of having to buy something for their wives (if the kids are small) as well as something for their own mothers. It’s twice the pressure! Well dads, this list is for you. Many of these places are local, so take what you will. ;)
1) Etsy: a virtual flea-market of unique, awesome, art-related things. Order something from here and it proves that you’ve been paying attention, or at least you know about her collection of Etsy favourites (this is mine. Sadly, if you haven’t ordered something by today you’re probably too late!
2) Ten Thousand Villages. (See my giveaway. It’s not too late to enter!) Cool store, cool stuff, great cause. Odds are that the mother of your children won’t want something forged by child labour half a world away.
3) A gift box of retro candies and/or sinfully delicious chocolate from the Candy Store. Staff will gladly gift wrap your selections and make it pretty. Little known fact: they are expert candy consultants. If you’re feeling lost, just ask. You have no idea how many malt balls, caramels, gummies, chocolates they have in stock.
4) A gift-certificate to Milkface. Their specialty is baby-wearing/nursing moms. Maybe a good gift for the mom-to-be?
5) Lee Valley. Egads there are so many great things to be had at Lee Valley, especially if mom is a gardener. But be careful, some moms would like to receive a reel mower, others wouldn’t. My faves: this glass hummingbird feeder, watering bulb, hammock, book darts.
6) Speaking of gardening, how about taking a trip to your local garden centre? All I want this year is a bunch of potted herbs for a kitchen garden. Bonus points if they’re re-potted into something pretty. Basil, parsley, rosemary, chives … it’s the gift that keeps on giving!
7) Give the gift of know-how. How about signing her up for a workshop so she can learn how to use Web 2.0 tools like blogs, Twitter, social networks, YouTube, and Flickr? :)
8) A digital photo frame. Most of us don’t have the space to display all of our favourite digital photos. A digital frame does the trick quite nicely. You can pick these up at electronics and photography stores.
Got other ideas? Do a good deed and add ’em to the list. (It’s like Help A Dad Day!)
