The first time I mentioned homeschooling to my husband, Patrick, we didn’t have children. For years, I felt inexplicably drawn to homeschooling, and Patrick objected adamantly. I read a stack of books on homeschooling, befriended several homeschooling families, and by the time our boys were of school-age, I had convinced Patrick that homeschooling was something we should try for one year.
Three years later, homeschooling has become an integral part of our lives; we can’t imagine any other educational arrangement for our boys. I am indebted to Patrick for his willingness to give homeschooling a try and for continuing to support our homeschooling efforts in so many ways: by offering encouragement to myself and the boys; by heading off to work each day to enable me to stay home; and by not complaining too loudly when he comes home to a messy house, an uncooked dinner, and two boys clamoring to tell him about the caterpillars in a jar on our kitchen counter.
It is for this and so much more that the boys and I strive to show Patrick our love and gratitude all year long, but especially on Father’s Day. Finding an original, thoughtful gift our boys, ages 6 and 9, can help put together can be a challenge, however. Over the years, we’ve happened upon a couple of gifts that were especially fun for the boys to give and the Dad (and Granddads) to receive.
Pop-up cards and an assortment of Pop-o-licious gifts: Pop-tarts, Pop-corn, and Tootsie-roll Pops were an instant hit with our Pop, Grand-pops, and God-pop, and the little boys who were fortunate enough to share their Pops’ yummy treats. Pop-up cards are simple to make. 
For ours, I typed “Happy Father’s Day to the World’s Greatest” on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper and mounted it on a sheet of colorful construction paper. Then, in a larger font, I typed “Pop” or “Grand-Pop” on another sheet which I cut into a fun shape and then mounted on second sheet of construction paper. The boys colored the cards and I put them together using an accordion-folded piece of construction paper to make the “Pop” pop. As for the treats, the selection is limited only by your imagination: pop-tarts, pop-corn, Tootsie-roll pops, soda pop, popsicles, pop-rocks, ring pops… there seems to be no shortage of pop-treats.
Another favorite gift has been our Book of Love and Laughter, a leather-bound journal the boys add to for Father’s Day, Christmas, and their Dad’s birthday. I purchased a quality, unlined journal at our local bookstore several years ago. Each holiday since the boys have made an entry into the book. For their first entry, I traced their hands, wrote their names, and dated the entry. Over the years, the boys have drawn pictures, dictated stories and jokes, and added photos. This has proven to be the perfect gift for the Dad who has everything and has quickly become a treasured possession.
Shirts and ties may be enough for some Dads, but our Dad, our homeschooling Dad, deserves so much more!
Jennifer and her boys are currently hard at work on their latest entry in the Book of Love and Laughter. When not gently encouraging her boys to write, she blogs about homeschooling two active, inquisitive boys at Adventures in McQuill-land. Join her each Saturday throughout the summer for a new series: Encouraging Summer Reading, featuring reading helps and book recommendations for children and their Moms.
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Well said, Jennifer. It takes a good man to let us try our ideas out – and a great mom to remember to say, thank you! I love the journal idea. We have a small photo album (5.5 x 8) that we add one page spread a year too, with highlight photos of dad and child from that year. Fairly simple, but heartfelt!
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