Father's Day Gifts in a Post-Divorce Situation

There are many times in life when a family is required to tighten their belts in order to stretch a dollar just about as far as it can go without tearing it. Throw into the mix a horrendous economy and shaky jobs outlook and everyone is looking to pinch pennies while keeping loved ones safe, secure, well-fed, and happy. These matters are compounded when parents are divorced. Usually, gift-giving is the first place families go when it's time to cut excess from the budget. It's times like these which invariably remind us that some of the most meaningful gifts we can give in life can cost as little as nothing. With Father's Day fast approaching, we offer some wonderful examples of expressing love and appreciation for Dad without breaking the bank.




Handmade items and other "gifts from the heart" come at little-to-no cost and are guaranteed to leave an impression that lasts a lifetime. There are no $5 cards that will adequately replace a handwritten letter or homemade card that is created purely from the heart. No matter what age the children are, a little nudge in the right direction will yield amazing results.
Foster creative thinking in your children by asking the right questions which will guide them to creating their written masterpiece:

• What do you love about your Father?
• What is your favorite thing to do with Dad?
• What problem did your Father help you solve that was important to you?
• Do you recall some of the great things you did during the last visit or vacation with Dad?

If you're good with computers or can elicit the aid of Mom or other computer savvy relative or friend (if the kids are particularly young), create a slide show of memorable pictures with Dad using Powerpoint software. This can be completed a number of ways:

• Scan old photos from albums or from the collection that you have stored in totes.
• Digital photos saved on thumb-drives, on your computer's hard-drive.
• Don't be afraid to ask Dad to send some photos he may have for your "project." (He doesn't have to know it's for him!)
• Accent the slideshow with commentary (written or recorded) for each slide. You can even add music and make a soundtrack for it.

Dads love things made by hand. Girls and boys alike can make things from craft kits that were probably part of a birthday or other holiday gift to them previously.

• A bracelet with the children's names.
• A necklace with the charms representing the children.
• Build a Pinewood Derby car for Dad.
• Create a framed picture for Pop with crayons, markers, paints, glue, and some construction paper.
• Create a digital video where the children sing and dance, recognizing Dad for all that he does for the family while expressing their love.

A troubled economy creates enough of a strain for families on a budget. It's worse when exacerbated by divorce and distance. When it's time to express love and recognition under such circumstances, don't let a lack of money be a blockade. There are many inexpensive ways to cultivate and foster good relationships with fathers both in intact families and broken families. Many of those we've shared with you today will create lifetime memories which will last longer than any $10 paperweight, $20 tie, or $50 pen set.

Happy Father's Day.

~Michael Ambrose



Michael Ambrose is a child custody coach helping families navigate through tumultuous divorce and custody situations.