I am so sorry for your loss. I had similar difficulties when my Dad died a few years back.

Try to make the memories more powerful than all the obnoxious advertising. So sorry for your loss, and I hope you and the "kids" can plan something nice for the day. I know it won't be easy.

((((Rose))))

I know it is rough the first year without your loved one, I know it was with me when I lost my Dad. All of the holidays will be rough, but at least you are starting with the smaller holidays and not the big ones like Thanksgiving & Christmas

If your children can come visit you on Fathers Day, drag out all the photo albums you have and remissness about what a great Dad he was, celebrate his life!!! I would avoid the cemetery, because he isn't there. He lives on in your life and the lives of your children.

Holidays can be tough. I like Laura's suggestion about the photo albums. Also, either at the KT or elsewhere on GardenWeb a few years ago I found the idea of making a memory jar: a decorative jar I filled with folded pieces of paper on which I'd written some happy memories of my husband. I made one of these for each of my kids, and one for me. If you wanted to make something in your husband's memory, Father's Day would be a good occasion to present it.

Best of luck to you.

I'm so sorry for your journey, this year of firsts can be so difficult. If your children would like, maybe a quiet family breakfast or dinner where you can celebrate what he brought to your lives?

If you can just tune out all the hoopla and ads, commercialism, please remember that's all it is. I'll wish you peace on that day.

I think another good idea would be to plant a tree in his memory

Tree. I bought one for my brother, it was planted in the local park. Nice and big now with pretty flowers.

Hugs for you and your children.

I like the idea of the tree planting.
((((Rose and children)))

I have 3 adult offspring. I'll feel lucky if one of them notices it is Father's Day; Heck, they can't remember my birthday, therefore, a Father's Day note will be a nice surprise.

I'm so sorry. Mother's Day was hard for me when my mom died, especially the first one, which was only three months later. I hope that you and your children can find a way to find some happiness in the day by focusing on the good memories. There are some really nice suggestions here for doing that.