What Dads really want for Father's Day!

While many consider Father's Day to be a cynical holiday dreamt up by greetings card companies to sell more cards (it wasn't - it was originated almost 100 years ago in the U.S., when Sonora Smart Dodd organised a church service to honour her father), there's no denying it's become big business. It's not even just about cards these days - Father's Day is like a second Christmas, albeit one almost exclusively aimed at gadget freaks and D.I.Y. enthusiasts. But do we dads really need or want a new lathe and a copy of The Great Escape on DVD to celebrate our virility and parenting skills?

Of course not. What we really want is a lovely summer's day, surrounded by the ones we love. And maybe a cup of tea in bed. And a lie in till at least, oooh, 8am. Below are a few suggestions for how you can make it a special day without spending a fortune...

As every dad knows, nothing quite warms the heart like a soggy bit of cardboard covered in pasta shapes that spell out D-A-D-D-Y. Although it is a bit disappointing if your children are now in their 20's.  Make something brilliant for the dad in your life, and he'll be really chuffed. It doesn't have to be much though - even a simple card will do.

What is 'Quality Time'? As far as we can tell, it's the 10 minutes you spend with your family each year when no-one's being grumpy, awkward, covered in jam or stung by a bee. Actually, the last two may be related. It's not just about trying to keep things harmonious, it's about actually enjoying each other's company. So do something as a family that you actually enjoy - if you like going for long walks, go for a long walk. If you like doing jigsaws, do a jigsaw together. If you like the 'comedy' styling’s of Justin Lee Collins - well, you should probably stick with the walk to be honest.

It looks like it's going to be a lovely weekend, so what better way to spend Father's Day than making us slave over a hot grill for hours on end? Seriously though, A BBQ is great fun for the whole family, and getting together to eat some great food is always a good idea. Just don't let us singe our eyebrows off with over-excited applications of fire lighting fluid.

Let's face it, all us dads really want is to feel appreciated and loved. You can say it with flowers, you can give it with gifts, but really, when it comes down to it, all we really want is a hug from the kids, and a kiss and a cuddle with the missus once they've gone to bed. Not too much of a kiss and a cuddle though - after all, that's how we got stuck in this bloody mess in the first place...