What NOT to buy Dad: The Worst Father’s Day Gifts

With Father’s Day on the way, we get a Mum’s perspective on what’s hot and what to most definitely NOT buy as a Father’s Day Gift! Here Sophia Walker, editor of Milk Drunk Diary and author of ‘The First-Time Parent: Six Months on the Outside,’ shares her thoughts…

Is it just me, or does it feel like there’s an occasion to mark every month? If it’s not Birthday’s or anniversaries it’s Grandparents Day or ‘dress your child like their favourite literary character’ day (for the record, I chose the boy from the Snowman, and put him in slippers and a scarf – simples!). But seriously, where does the giving end?

Thankfully, there is a day that Dad’s benefit from, and that’s Father’s Day on Sunday 19 June.

Without wanting to ruin the magic of giving, we all know that behind every child’s gift is a worn-out Mum who has paced the high street looking for something original to buy. Don’t blame us for the cartoon drawings, identikit golf gift sets or poorly painted  ‘I love Dad’ mugs from your offspring. If we had it our way, you’d be getting a nice bottle of Chateauneuf des Papes, or Hendricks Gin –  if only children giving alcohol wasn’t shunned upon.

I’ve always found that the best way to come up with an idea, is to think of the worst present, and then buy the opposite! Genius, no?

So for all the other confused shoppers out there, wondering what to get this Father’s Day, here’s my list of What NOT to get Dad …

1. Grooming

Don’t buy a nasal trimmer. Nothing quite says ‘you’ve let yourself go’ than receiving this embarrassing item from your child. There are easier, less insulting ways to find this in to your partner’s hands… but not on this special day. Instead do buy a luxurious beard grooming kit, to show Dad you appreciate his facial hair.

2. Snap Happy

In the spirit of giving, don’t give a picture of Mum on a keyring! It’s suspiciously untrusting and positively bad taste. Instead, give Dad something he does want to see, like tickets to the Rolling Stones exhibition in London.

3. Going up West

No, no, no. Tickets to Mama Mia the musical are not what to give your Dad ever, even if Mum has been dying to go for the past five years. What Dad really wants is to see The Stone Roses comeback gig in Manchester on Father’s Day. Now that really is a gift!

4. Chow Down

Unless your Dad is James Martin, a breadmaker is not a good gift! In fact, it smacks of ‘Mum really wanted this’, or ‘you need to do more cooking’. Either way, it’s not the right message. Think again, with something indulgent, such as The Beer Collection by Hotel Chocolat. Nom noms!

5. Hair raising

It might seem fun at the time, but ‘spray on hair’ is never a good gift to give! Whether it’s the novelty factor, or a subtle hint, this can only be met with disappointment at best, and actually being used at worst! If Dad is ‘follicley challenged’, then a Yankees baseball hat is a far kinder alternative.

So there you have it, five hot and five not gifts to give Dad.

And of course, if all else fails and yours is a first-time Dad, then ‘The First-Time Parent: Six Months on the Outside’ is available now on iTunes and iBooks.

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