This Father’s Day, Ask + Listen

As we get ready for Father’s Day, we were recently inspired by Sara Bindi’s “Honoring Dad This Year? Keep it Simple.” 

Sometimes the most powerful gifts are right in front of us. In this case, right on the sides of our heads – our ears! Taking time this Father’s Day to get to know Dad better by asking questions and listening is a really cool thing.

Sara suggests several options – she calls a more serious approach a “story telling project.”   This involves questions like “what was your childhood home like”, “what toys did you play with”, “why did you join the Navy”, … And this project can go on well beyond Father’s Day. Sara shared that writer Bruce Feiler of “Council of Dads” got to know his own dad through one question per week. The project lasted for seven years.

“For a more playful approach, rope in the whole family and get to know your father through trivia. Have him team up with a family member to create a quiz about his life. Bring out some snacks and make a game night out of it”, Sara suggests. This can even work remotely using Zoom.

Another easy idea, is to use icebreakers to get the conversation going. Everyone can participate, but make sure that Dad gets to answer! Here are some of our favorite icebreakers from icebreaker.ws.

1. If you could have an endless supply of any food, what would you get?
2. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
3. What is one goal you’d like to accomplish during your lifetime?
4. When you were little, who was your favorite super hero and why?
5. Who is your hero? (a parent, a celebrity, an influential person in one’s life)
6. What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer?
7. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?
8. If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why
9. What’s the ideal dream job for you?
10. Are you a morning or night person?
11. What are your favorite hobbies?
12. How did you get into your career?

 How will you celebrate Father Day’s this year?

- Abigail + David