What dad really wants for Father’s Day ... it's more simple than you think

By Alan Stokes
September 3 2016 - 10:15am
A dad who enjoyed reading to his children might like the favour returned for Father's Day.
A dad who enjoyed reading to his children might like the favour returned for Father's Day.

A hug or kiss is always fine, and a cheap plastic backscratcher might work, but he'd rather someone just sang him a lullaby or four.

1. Words of affirmation. The story goes that everyone loves and wants to be loved in different ways. In 1992 the American author and anthropologist Gary Chapman defined them as "the five languages of love". But not all of them work so well with your dad. While raising children, he has honed his bullcrap filter, so nice words don't always cut it. And as Chapman writes in his Five Love Languages for Men, flattery is quite different to affirming words. It has an agenda and can involve manipulation. "Gee Dad, your hair is looking decidedly thick and plentiful today" won't get you far.

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