My dad gave me a toolbox when I was in high school. It was small and simple — inside were probably just four items: a hammer, a handsaw, a set of screwdrivers and a photograph of his father, as if to say being handy ran in the family. As a teenager I wasn’t the least bit interested in tools, but his gift followed me through the years.
I dragged that toolbox with me to college, then to New York City and finally back home to Richmond. Each move made me a little more comfortable with the tools inside and a little more willing to learn new skills. Over time I added levels, drills, wrenches and more, eventually outgrowing the original box. Still, we use that initial handsaw and screwdriver set around our house today. The hammer, I suspect, is still floating around Manhattan somewhere — sorry, Dad.
With Father’s Day approaching, I wanted to take a moment to thank my dad, Sherry’s dad and all the other fathers and father-figures who taught us how to tackle basic repairs, measure carefully and take pride in a job well done. Those early lessons — how to change a lightbulb safely, patch a wall, or tighten a loose cabinet hinge — became practical skills and gave us the confidence to handle more ambitious do-it-yourself projects later on.
Beyond the tools themselves, what matters most is the example they set. Many fathers taught by doing: working alongside their kids on home projects, explaining each step, and showing how patience and attention to detail pay off. Those shared projects create memories — a crooked shelf that got fixed together, a backyard fence rebuilt over a long weekend, a bedside table assembled late at night. Each task becomes a small story in the larger history of a family.
If you’re thinking about ways to honor your dad this Father’s Day, consider something meaningful and practical. A few thoughtful ideas:
- Restore a legacy tool: Clean, sharpen and re-handle an old saw or refurbish a vintage toolbox. It’s a sentimental way to preserve memories and keep useful tools in service.
- Plan a collaborative project: Tackle a small home improvement task together — building a planter box, hanging new lights, or refinishing a chair. The time spent is the real gift.
- Assemble a personalized kit: Put together a set of quality screwdrivers, a reliable tape measure, a compact cordless drill and a notebook with simple how-to notes. Include a handwritten card with a memory or lesson you learned from him.
- Share a story session: Invite him to share family memories or the origins of his favorite tools. Record those stories so future generations can hear them.
Gifts don’t need to be extravagant to be meaningful. Often, the most lasting presents are practical items paired with time and attention. A simple, well-used tool that carries a story is worth far more than a trendy gadget that gets tucked away.
We’d love to hear your stories. Did your dad pass down a favorite tool or teach you a trick that still comes in handy? Maybe he gave advice that changed how you approach problems — practical guidance, a patient demonstration or even a corny but true dad saying that helped more than you expected. Share those moments and ideas for celebrating Father’s Day with the people who shaped the way you fix, build and care for your home.
And while I can’t reveal the special gift I’ve planned for my dad this year — that surprise will have to wait until he unwraps it — I can say that whatever it is, it’s meant to honor the lessons and the time he invested in me. Those lessons have lasted far longer than the original toolbox, and they’re passed forward each time we pick up a wrench or hang a picture with care.