There’s lists all over the internet with suggestions of what gifts to get your dad for Father’s Day, their birthday or other holidays. Usually, those gifts fit in a few categories: Grilling, golf, whiskey, etc.
But I wanted to find out what Dads appreciate the most. So, I asked dads around Indianapolis: What’s the most memorable gift you’ve received from your kids?
David “Moose” Adamson
Member of 81355 hip-hop group. Father of two sons; lives in Irvington.
“Anything my kids give me is memorable and special, but there’s a card (my son) Wally made where he wrote a song about me to the tune of ‘Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer.’ We listen to music and write songs together so that meant a lot.”
Tedd Hardy
Friends of Belmont Beach president. Father of twin girls; lives in Haughville.
“The most memorable gift I’ve received from my twins was a drawing they made of us together at the park, with big smiles and sunshine all around. It was such a simple but heartfelt reminder of the joy and love we share every day.”
Carlos Hutchinson
Owner of Tlaolli. Father of three; lives in Fishers.
This was a present from my daughter, Carla. Her signature was her finger print because she couldn’t write yet. A powerful message delivered with the sweetest kiss and hug.
Jeff Brown
Pastor of North City Church. Father of four; lives in Lawrence.
Handwritten cards from my kids. They’re messy, authentic and filled with words only they’d put together, lol. It’s sweet because it reminds me why I love them for who they are “right now” and not just what they’ll become.
Clayton Hamilton
Artist. Father and grandfather; lives in Indianapolis.
My departed son, Clinton, gave me a button stating, “World’s Greatest DAD!”
Quincy Owens
Teacher & artist. Father of five and grandfather; lives in Monon Yard.
The precise gift of their existence in my life!
Larry Smith
President of Fathers and Families Center. Father of three & grandfather of two; lives in McCordsville.
I was a dad at 16. So when my oldest went to high school, wanting to hang out with her friends, I was very, very strict on her.
And, of course, that engendered a lot of anger on her part. But when she got older — in her mid-20s — she wrote me a wonderful Father’s Day card, thanking me and saying how she understood why I was as strict as I was. One of her friends had three kids by her early 20s, and so she understood I was simply trying to protect her.
Ted Somerville
Photographer. Father of one; lives in Meridian-Kessler.
My son is in the throes of toddlerhood. During a particularly difficult nighttime routine, after a wild bout of kicking and screaming, he calmed down, then he grabbed my head and gave me a kiss on the forehead and cheek, imitating how my wife and I give him affection. It made me laugh inside and warmed my heart.
A correction was made on March 18, 2024: An earlier version of this article did not list the correct number of Larry Smith’s children and grandchildren. Smith has three children and two grandchildren.
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