Things Your Dad Always Waits Too Long To Replace
Dads sometimes procrastinate. This isn’t always a bad thing. Some dads just happen to be busier than others and their priorities might not always be in the right place. They might not realize their pants belt has its own stretch marks. Or that it’s not de rigueur to use a wallet made largely of duct tape. So, we’re going to take a closer look at some of the things dads leave too long before replacing. It’s our way of saying, “We love you, Dad, but sometimes you need to pay more attention to the small things around you.”
Tires
When was the last time this happened to your Dad? He’s driving somewhere important and you get a phone call from him. He has a flat tire a few miles out of the city and could use a hand with changing it. You head over to where he’s parked on the side of the road and give him some help. Once you get the flat tire off, you notice that it is worn smooth and that the flat was the result of driving on bald tires. You scold Dad for being so irresponsible with the car and make a deal that you’ll keep a closer eye on him and he promises to keep a closer eye on the tires. Luckily, no one was hurt, but tires should not be left too long to replace.
Batteries
The house you live in is all set up in case of a power outage. There are flashlights located at each entry/exit point as well as on the way downstairs. No one wants to be caught off-guard when the power goes out, and this is the plan that your Dad put together. It makes sense. Battery-operated flashlights will make a difference in the dark. Eventually there is a major power outage that affects the entire region you live in and it takes place late at night. You spring into action and grab the flashlight from the shelf next to the back door. It doesn’t work. Dad forgot to replace the batteries after he borrowed them for something else a year ago.
Vehicles
If your Dad is a bit of a backyard mechanic, this one may make some sense. It means that your family car is probably a beater that has seen better days, but with someone who knows how to use a wrench and a grease gun, you’ll be able to get a long life out of it. However, there is a time where you can’t keep welding things or replacing parts with other replacement parts, just to squeeze another year or 20,000 miles out of it. Sooner or later that car is going to have to spend the rest of its days rusting in a junkyard. Dads are notorious for trying to get as much life as they can out of any vehicle. Help him understand that they don’t last forever.
Barbecues
There is no doubt that Dad is the King of the Grill. He knows his way around a searing slab of meat and is usually considered the best griller in the neighborhood. He can barbecue something for each meal of the day all year long, even if it is snowing. But one thing he is a bit light on is recognizing when the ‘Q’ is due for either a thorough cleaning or replacement. Signs of rust on the sides of the cooking grate should be the first clue that you are already too late to save this grill. As much as we all love the way he cooks anything from burgers to steaks and beyond, when the barbecue is past its prime, it is time to upgrade and move on to better days of cooking outdoors.
Socks
Socks are not supposed to provide your feet with air vents. Socks with holes in them are telling you that it is time to throw them away and get some new ones. Socks are also a pretty practical gift idea that anyone can use for Dad. For example, if you’re giving socks as a gift for Dad and want to make it a little more personal, some retailers (like No Cold Feet for example) have specialized gift sets for certain occasions. This means you don’t have to wait for Dad’s birthday to replace the ones with holes in his sock drawer. You can do that at any time to thank him for all he does for you and the family, even if he forgets to change the tires or batteries.
Coffee Machine
The expression “cup of mud” is not meant to be taken literally. Bit if your dad’s morning cup of joe is starting to look and taste like mud, it could be a signal that the coffee machine is ready to go. Proper cleaning and maintenance have given your dad years of enjoyment. And Dad can admire his own thriftiness. But just like cars, Dad will try to squeeze decades of life out of a coffee machine that only has a 2-year warranty. That layer of brown stuff that is baked onto the place where the coffee filter goes is not considered seasoning. Dad probably doesn’t know that these are built to be replaceable and are not permanent fixtures in the kitchen.
In Conclusion
Some dads have a bad sense of time. It’s not because they don’t care, it’s because they are so busy making your life better. Maybe that means he is a bit on the odd side trying to squeeze a few more cups of coffee out of a burned-out coffee maker or he just hasn’t gotten around to changing toothbrushes in a while! But that’s because he’s busy doing other things and making sure you feel you are a special part of his life. Enjoy spending time with him while you can and don’t worry about what his sock drawer looks like. Just get him the new socks he needs on the sly!
