Happy Father’s Day from Good Dads! Did you know that Father’s Day became an official holiday in 1972 and started as a way for a woman to honor her widowed Civil War veteran father? Whether you’re a dad, granddad or just have a special dad in your life, we want to thank fathers for all that they do!

How are you celebrating Father’s Day? What are some ways you’d like to be celebrated? How can families honor dads who are working over-the-road?

There are several ways to celebrate the special over-the-road dads in your life this year! Keep scrolling for some ideas from the truck driver’s daughter.

The joys of journaling

On a previous advice blog, we discussed the power of telling stories, both real and fictional. There’s a special connection formed when we tell our personal stories as dads, and writing these stories down can help us remember them even after a lot of time has passed.

Perhaps you’ve seen a guided journal or two while perusing bookstore shelves. One in particular is titled “Dad, I Want to Hear Your Story.” Journals like this can serve as a jumping off point to share your story, just in time for Father’s Day!

While home or over-the-road, you can guide your child through journal prompts. Journaling/keeping a diary is a proven way to process feelings and increase mental acuity. We don’t have as many opportunities to write by hand these days, so this is a perfect place to practice those handwriting skills!

Even if you don’t share your life story, you can start small by asking some leading questions as journal prompts. Even writing just a few sentences will be something special to look back on. Here are a few ideas to get you started!

Questions for Dads

• What was your favorite part about being a kid?
• Tell the story about when your child was born.
• What’s your favorite place you’ve traveled to in your big rig?
• What was your own father like?

Questions for Kids

• If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
• If you had the entire day to do whatever you wanted, what would you do?
• Who is your best friend and why?

Make a bucket list and cross something off

Popularized by the 2007 movie by the same name, a bucket list is a list of things you want to do sometime before you “kick the bucket.” These goals can be as lofty as you’d like. After all, what’s stopping you from dreaming big?

I asked my dad what some of his “bucket list” items are. Travel wise, he said he’d love to fly to the U.K. and take the Beatles tour. Throughout his life, his goals and priorities have changed. He said to be aware that life happens, and that’s okay!

“If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him what your plans are,” he joked.

While plans change, my dad says he reflects on his favorite piece of scripture, Psalm 23. Even through life’s ups and downs, Dad sees that verse as God’s way of saying, “I’ve got your back.”

This Father’s Day, you might not be able to cross off big ticket items like a European vacation, but be thinking of smaller things to cross off along the way! Maybe there’s a restaurant or food you’ve always wanted to try, or maybe there’s a letter you’ve always wanted to write. No matter how big or small the goal, bucket lists can serve as reminders for what we prioritize and allow us to dream big.

Gift ideas for truckers

Sometimes looking up “gift ideas for dad” feels frustrating and counterintuitive, especially for fathers in unique situations like over-the-road dads. A “World’s Best Dad” coffee mug may seem like a nice idea in theory, especially if you actually do have the world’s best dad, but it can be impractical for an over-the-road driver.

An over-the-road driver’s truck serves as their home away from home. There are plenty of useful tools to make the space feel more homey. Storage bins, hooks and caddies can allow the space to feel a little less cluttered.

Maybe the gift can be in the form of written word. When I was little, I sneaked into my dad’s tool shed and wrote “I love you, daddy!” on the wall in Sharpie. He didn’t end up seeing it until a few years after I wrote it, but he just so happened to read it when he was having a bad day.

As an-over-the-road driver, be thinking of things you’d like to have, even if you’re not big on gifts! Many people struggle to think of what they want, especially when asked. Not all gifts require a trip to the store, either! Sometimes the smallest gifts and gestures can mean the most. You might also get more out of a gifted experience—like a picnic in the park or an afternoon snuggled up on the couch watching home movies—as opposed to a material present.

Final Words

I once again want to wish a Happy Father’s Day to all of our readers and their families. Even if you can’t be home at this time, I hope the day is special for you, and that this sparks an idea or two on how to celebrate the day.

You don’t need a holiday to be reminded just how important fathers are for improving communities and allowing children to thrive. Thank you, over-the-road dads, for all that you do!