Father's day present for stressed dad

June 14, 2011 11:52 AM

Father's day present for a stressed father with very little free time

Heya,

So it's father's day on Sunday and I'd really like to get my Dad something awesome however he has very little free time at the moment owing to the fact he's regularly visiting my Mum in hospital (an hour's round trip away). She's not in life-threatening danger but due to hip operation needed/obesity-related issues, she's unlikely to be back on her feet (literally) for a while but may be moving to a closer hospital.

Unfortunately I live about two hours away which is too far away to do something like promise cards for housework/home-cooked meals/garden work that he doesn't have time for at the moment.

So, hive mind, I turn to you for help for presents in the region of £10-20 that would come in really useful in this situation. My dad's a computer geek, loves walking (though rarely has time for it at the moment), loves his garden (but again, doesn't have time for it at the moment).

Any ideas?

posted by Wysawyg to Shopping (13 answers total)

Sounds like he could use a day of help from one of his faraway kids.
posted by swift at 11:57 AM on June 14, 2011 [3 favorites]

Best answer: Maybe some kind of delicious meals that can be delivered to his home?
posted by meta87 at 12:00 PM on June 14, 2011

Does he like to drink or smoke? If he partakes, a nice bottle of scotch or a few cigars could be nice gifts that might encourage him to take a little break from daily stress. A good cigar and some brandy is basically an hour alone in the garden relaxing.

Of course, if he has health issues himself, perhaps not.
posted by danny the boy at 12:03 PM on June 14, 2011 [1 favorite]

Danny the boy stole my idea.
Get some booze. A great destressor and something he appreciates. With your budget, find maybe some nice beers or a bottle of wine.
posted by handbanana at 12:16 PM on June 14, 2011

once a week maid service: Just someone to straighten the house! I hear there's a whole range of prices; you should be able to find something that fits your budget.
posted by Ys at 12:34 PM on June 14, 2011

Can you arrange for delivery of a nice dinner for him and your mother in her current hospital? It sounds like that's where the focus of his time and attention is now, so that would be where I would focusing, too, were I looking to do something nice for him. Optionally, perhaps music of comedy or books on tape (or CD or iPod, depending on your particular flavour of dad) for the car trips back and forth?
posted by DarlingBri at 12:40 PM on June 14, 2011 [1 favorite]

If he is spending a lot of time driving in the car, I would get him something to help him pass the time in the car.
posted by dgeiser13 at 12:57 PM on June 14, 2011 [1 favorite]

Most of these answers don't seem to really be in budget (the OP said £10-20). I like the votes for a nice bottle of scotch, or some form of entertainment you've picked out that the two of them can share in the hospital. (Which reminds me, I keep meaning to make a mix cd for my parents of music they'd probably like but likely haven't heard of.)
posted by deludingmyself at 1:21 PM on June 14, 2011

Yeah, whisky would be nice.

Or if it's something useful you want, two hours away is near enough for you to go over on Sunday and fill up his freezer with homemade ready meals that he can cook easily when he gets in. I don't know how much you'd get for £20, but even if it was simple pasta and sauce dishes, it be one less thing for him to think about. And he'd think of his lovely daughter every time he went to eat.
posted by penguin pie at 1:46 PM on June 14, 2011

I don't know if he is driving himself or taking public transportation but how about some awesome audiobooks. He can even listen to them on the downtimes at the hospital. I gave these to my dad when he had to travel over an hour each way everyday for months for chemo treatments and he loved them.
posted by maxg94 at 1:57 PM on June 14, 2011

Another angle on making the trip better: satellite radio.
posted by at at 6:00 PM on June 14, 2011

I'd nth music and podcasts he might like in a form he can listen to in transit.

Hospitals are really draining, even if it's not "serious" and the food & snacks aren't very exciting, in part because it's institutional. I'd make some homemade, healthy cookies or granola bars. Even just bunches of dried fruits & nuts that are prepacked snacks.

Call, email or write him more if you can. He's probably feeling lonely and tired.

Internet hugs to you.
posted by Heart_on_Sleeve at 9:02 AM on June 15, 2011

Response by poster: For anyone interested, we went with a home-cooked meal delivery place that advertised using real farm food ingredients. They were delivered this morning and sound to be very well received.

Thanks!
posted by Wysawyg at 6:08 AM on June 17, 2011