I need an estranged Father's day card.

[MrsAxilla]

Why are they all so fucking sappy and sentimental? You're so great; thanks for everything; I love you. I need one that says "You're my dad, so here's a card. Hope you're not dead. Happy Fathers Day!"

[MrsAxilla]

Jun 15, 2012 11:30:33 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Get a blank card.

Haha! I love it! I think a signed, blank card relays the message perfectly!

[laurenpetro]

shoebox must make something that fits.

[Deleted]

[starlily]

Why bother with a card at all then?

[MrsAxilla]

Jun 15, 2012 12:04:39 GMT -5 starlily said:

Why bother with a card at all then?

This is a good question, and difficult to answer.

[MrsAxilla]

I've never sent a card before. But last night, Ben was making cards for his grandpas and asked if he only has three. I felt really put on the spot, but I wasn't going to lie. Then he wanted to make another card. I might just send that by itself. Honestly, I don't even know his address.

[ttt]

I would probably just send one from the kid.

[lyssbobiss, Command, B613]

I sent one from Babycakes. That way, my dad gets something, but not from me. Oddly enough he's a great grandfather. Just a shit father. Whee!

[heightsyankee]

Jun 15, 2012 12:17:05 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

I've never sent a card before. But last night, Ben was making cards for his grandpas and asked if he only has three. I felt really put on the spot, but I wasn't going to lie. Then he wanted to make another card. I might just send that by itself. Honestly, I don't even know his address.

My kids ask about my father sometimes, like if I have one. I say "yes, I have one." and they have never pressed. Still, I haven' spoken to mine in 11 years and he has never met my kids. I would obviously let them make a card, but I wouldn't send it.

[MrsAxilla]

Ben is so sweet. He made a card for my dad tonight and made it "extra special because we never get to see Grandpa Mike. Maybe he's sick. This will cheer him up!". I can't find his address (his name is too common in his city), so I'm going to send it care of my aunt (who knows where he is) with some recent pics of Ben. Still undecided on whether I'll include my own note.

This is tough for me. My step-sister's ex-H is much the same towards my niece as my dad was towards me (and at the same age, too). My sis wants me to open up to my niece about my (non) relationship with my dad; she thinks it will help. I much prefer to avoid, but....he IS sick (physically) and probably won't be around much longer. And my now my son's asking after him. Oy vey! Families can get fucked up, no?

[backinpgh]

For this I usually get my mom a card that says "Thanks for filling in for my crappy father!"

[druidp]

[Michelle]

my husband picked out the card for my dad this year and admitted it was hellahard. My dad isn't horrible. He has done horrible things and he struggles. But now that i'm an adult with my own kid I can see he did the best he could. So I don't hate him. And in recent years he has tried hard. We were estranged for about 4 years during which time I got married, he refused to come to the wedding, and it was the best day ever (my brother walked me down the aisle).

So anyway the card was a joke card that said something about father's day was invented when, about a month after mother's day one year, someone said, "oh yeah - what about dad?" I am close with my step-mother so that seemed kind of appropriate...

[ttt]

I really wish card companies would come up with some more neutral cards for occasions like Fathers Day and Mothers Day. How hard is it to make a card that says "Thinking of you this Father's Day" or just "Wishing you a happy Father's Day" without also saying "you're the best dad ever!!!Thanks for always being there for me!!"? It's not like it's a big secret that there are many people who have difficult relationships with their parents. And they already have cards for Happy Administrative Professionals' Day to my Ex-Mother-In-Law! and everything else under the sun.

[5kcandlesinthewind]

I don't talk to my dad, either, so I don't bother with a card. But it's almost impossible to find a simple card for my grandfather. I love him, he's a great guy, but he's not the "backbone of our family" or the sentimental type, we didn't fish together, and we aren't biologically related, so 99% of the cards don't apply. I actually went out and bought a card the week they showed up at CVS, because all of the more general ones are always the first to go.
Someone could make a fortune on non-sappy cards, I swear.

[StrawberryBlondie]

My dad is great, but we don't have the relationship depicted in fathers day cards. The sappy "I love you so much and you're the greatest person ever!!! just isn't us.

The one I got him this year said something like "Dad, I know you've done a lot for me over the years" on the front and "I have to say, I'm totally worth it" on the inside.

[Michelle]

Here are some great options for you next year: www.greetingcarduniverse.com/holiday-cards/fathers-day-cards/for-estranged-dad-father

[MrsAxilla]

Jun 16, 2012 10:37:01 GMT -5 Michelle said:

Here are some great options for you next year: www.greetingcarduniverse.com/holiday-cards/fathers-day-cards/for-estranged-dad-father

Some of those are great. Thanks!

[Michelle]

Jun 16, 2012 10:56:07 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Jun 16, 2012 10:37:01 GMT -5 Michelle said:

Here are some great options for you next year: www.greetingcarduniverse.com/holiday-cards/fathers-day-cards/for-estranged-dad-father

Some of those are great. Thanks!

My favorite is the one that says something like, "growing up I hated reading father's day cards because, let's face it, you weren't much of a father. but I *can* say you are my dad, so let's start there." LOL.

[ttt]

Also seriously are there really THAT many dads who fish???

[Deleted]

Jun 16, 2012 10:15:54 GMT -5 ttt said:

I really wish card companies would come up with some more neutral cards for occasions like Fathers Day and Mothers Day. How hard is it to make a card that says "Thinking of you this Father's Day" or just "Wishing you a happy Father's Day" without also saying "you're the best dad ever!!!Thanks for always being there for me!!"? It's not like it's a big secret that there are many people who have difficult relationships with their parents. And they already have cards for Happy Administrative Professionals' Day to my Ex-Mother-In-Law! and everything else under the sun.

I agree. I also wish they would have more cards that wouldn't specifically address the recipient as Dad or Mom. I would like to get cards for my stepparents, but most of them suck. The ones that say "For a great step-mom" just look awkward. And then there are all the ones that say stuff like "I love you just like a mother." No. I love my stepparents. They are great. But they are NOT my parents.

Maybe this could be my ticket out of law - starting a greeting card business that specializes in simplicity and avoids sappiness.

Actually, that's a good idea. I HATE giving wedding cards because most of them are SO sappy. I'm just not a sappy person. I never have been. I need funny cards and simple ones that just say, "Congratulations! Now let's eat cake!" We actually once got a couple a bar mitzvah card for their wedding because the card store we were at had such shit options for wedding cards.

[heightsyankee]

I have seen a lot of wedding and special events cards that aren't sappy BUT they're always like $8+ at high end gift ware stores. I just don't find them at Target.