This time when I planned to visit home after almost eleven months, one of the most important thing that came to my mind was the Gift for my dad. While thinking of this the plane of mi thoughts started flying backwards in time and landed on a morning of January 2004 when within a few days I was about to leave for Bangalore.
I was sitting in my room when I heard my dad talking in this tone which always told me that he’s getting emotional. The only time he gets emotional is either talking of his kids(four of us), or his sister who is no more .So I decided to do a bit of eavesdropping and here is what I heard:
You know vikram(dad’s friend) every time I think of my kids my heart fills with pride. I never asked much from God and what I asked I already got in mi kids.
I backed slowly for I wudn’t interfere him . This was his moment of glory . He was relishing his ROI on years of hard work and love he invested in us.
The advice
He is one man who tends to see himself in us . The god created all and he comes down next in the hierarchy for he created us. Gifting him shouldn’t be a mere formality . Take some time to think and see what makes him happy. Here are some tips.
Make him happy and proud
No material gift will ever made a father happy if he don’t feel proud of you. You yourself are the greatest gift to your father provided your deeds make him look at you lovingly and say these proud words:
- Here Mr. X, meet my son/daughter *(take note of that smug tone and happy look)
You have already gifted him the world by doing deeds for which he can proudly present you to the world.
Know there needs
Here is the list of what I gifted to my dad this time
Medicine for his joint pain
A woolen shawl
A pair of my old nike shoes
It hardly cost me anything but see the effect.
1. The medicine I bought may not work but half of his pain is already relieved cause he know I am aware of his pain and I often thought of him.
2. The shawl may not be of the best of the quality but I know it will give him warmth cause I paid enough attention to know that he needed a new one.
3. He may not wear my old flashy shoes save when he goes for a morning walk but I remember he once said * A father knows his son is really grown up when they can wear each others shoes, it gives great feeling
I have grown up dad.
Listen to him
You gotta visit your old uncle son, he may not be alive next time you come home.
I thought… you know I hate these visits dad, he will keep asking all those weird questions I don’t have any answers for.
I said… Ok dad I will go but I won’t stay more then an hour.
The point is ‘listen to him’ for he always listened to you. your attention and obedience something he will always yearn for.
Write him often
My dad has this collections of letters written by me and my siblings to him. Though letter writing has become a thing of past but we still write him once in a while and he prefer it that way.
Believe me people in this age of tele calls and E mails, letters are a priceless gift. Years ago when my dad’s only sis(my aunt) died me and my sister wrote a letter to console him. Though we were very young, we put our heart into that letter to console him.
He still consider that letter as his Most prized possession.
I know you are crying dad
Once again its time for me to leave . I know I won’t see dad for next several months. Every body is around and I know one person in family is avoiding me.
Who else but my dad.
I know where you would be dad, In that room which ince used to be mine(still is).
I know you are pretending to be busy(as always) and trying to control tears(futile efforts).
It goes like this every time I leave:
I hug him and say I love you dad
I love you too son( crying ofcourse).
Last Tip and a great gift
Tell him very often that you love him.