This Sunday, celebrate Dad

STAFFORD — In writing a Father’s Day column this week, I needed two things: inspiration and sources.

First, (1) a father. Luckily, I’ve got one of those! And (2) my sources.

Now, which experts would be best to turn to? I’d say none would be better to talk to about fathers than children. So, I headed over to Stafford’s KinderCare on Garrisonville Road, and talked to some local children about their ideas.

Sidney King, 10, told me he spends lots of time with his dad playing with an ipod, downloading their favorite music. Sometimes they play football, too. Sidney said he planned to get his dad a card, letting him know he’s “the best dad ever.”

And, I asked Cailyn Cowart, 7, what it is about dads in general, and hers of course, that makes them special. She thought a moment.

“They’re very smart at electronical things like fixing things,” she said, mentioning that her dad can fix cars and motorcycles.

I guess she’ll learn when she gets older that not all men are equally as handy, but that was a conversation for another day.

“Yes,” I said, moving on.

She told me that among her favorite things to do with her dad is go to the park and play Frisbee.

“He rides my scooter when we go sometimes,” she said, with a giggle. “He’s a funny dad.”

Cameron Freeman, 9, who sat nearby, said he loves to hang out with his dad. And friends Gavin Monzingo and Victor Mills said they enjoy things like “just playing” and “playing football” respectively, with their own dads.

I also checked with my own family, phoning my nephews for the latest on dads — from the kids’ perspective, of course. When I did so, I told my oldest nephew, Owen, 7, that I needed his assistance with a Father’s Day column.

After some silence, he responded: “That’s hard.”

But when questioned about his own dad, he said: “He’s nice and does funny stuff.”

And my dad/his grandfather? “We go to McDonald’s for Happy Meals. We play blocks. He plays with me,” he said of his Pop-Pop.

He spoke of making something special for both of them, and for his other grandfather, on Father’s Day. And he stressed that you should remember to say “I love you” on that special day.

Happy with this outcome, I decided to talk to my other nephew, his 4-year-old brother Carter, on the phone about the same subject. Unfortunately, something really good was on TV and he would not come to the phone.

Ah well. Happy Father’s Day, Dad. You know which grandson to take to McDonald’s.

Tracy Bell is managing editor of the Stafford County Sun. Reach her at tbell@staffordcountysun.com.