While my kids don’t have the perfect dad, he’s pretty darn close. And I’m not sure whether they know it. It’s one of those things they may not know until they have kids of their own. But one day they’ll know.
Along my blogging way, I’ve met many dads who feel that fatherhood is shortchanged. Good dads need to be celebrated.
My husband is one of those dads. Although I usually write about my experiences as a mom, today I’m going to talk about him. I usually write about my decisions as a parent, but the truth is, he’s the other half of my team. I only give my side of the story. I couldn’t do my part without his.
1. From the moment my son was born, my husband dove into fatherhood. He took an entire month off work to be with his newborn son. Paternity leave. At night we took shifts on the couch with pillows propped precariously so we could get some sleep, the only thing that worked. Warming bottles of formula and changing a soiled diaper became an Olympic two-person sport at which we became adept in our sleep-deprived fury.
2. Night-time wakings have cursed this house for many years. As soon as our babies cried out, my husband’s feet hit the floor and he zipped across the hall before I had even sat up and opened my eyes. I’d walk in to find him already rocking and shushing. Never did my husband complain that this getting up in the night business was my job.
3. He has slept countless nights on our kids’ floors when they couldn’t fall back to sleep, covered around only his torso with a thin baby blanket and using a stuffed animal as a pillow if that’s all that was available.
4. He plays with the kids every evening after dinner, whether it’s wrestling, tag, a card game, catch, hide-and-seek, kickball, or just taking a walk. Every night he is a family man first, human playground second.
5. While I tend to act like a 10-year-old 90 percent more often than he does, he always makes dinner more lively when he tries to lick his plate when no one is looking or keeps a serious face when he sticks his smelly foot in your face and asks, “Hey, does my foot stink?” It’s the element of surprise that gets us every time.
6. He doesn’t always let the kids win. If you play a game with him, you’re on your own. My kids will be better for it when they’re older, though right now I don’t think they’d agree.
7. He does my daughter’s hair in the morning and lets her pick out her clothes because if I do it, the morning starts out in tears. When he does it, fits of giggles echo down the hall.
8. He doesn’t miss a game, a practice, a play, anything. Though I don’t need to reveal our sideline conversations. The kids should never hear those.
When we have a rough time in our small family, my husband and I get through it and then we laugh. There’s no one else I’d want to muddle through parenthood with.
Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful dads out there who are their family’s heroes.
Mom in the Muddle 
He sounds like a great dad and partner. Loved number 2 and 3.
He really is. We’ve had our share of parenting squabbles during those late nights and in those early days. Whew! And I loved number 2 and 3 too!
Ahh, what a sweet hubby you have and a wonderful dad your kids have! But then you know that already. 🙂
He’s a keeper. 😉
That’s really sweet. Great fathers deserve recognition x
They do because there are so many people who just complain or so many dads who aren’t there. Kids need strong, loving men in their lives. We are fortunate to know a lot of these guys.
Totally agree with you, good dads deserve recognition. In a culture where it is all too easy for men to walk away, the ones who stick around and live up to their roles as fathers need to be celebrated. Thanks for sharing!
Lovely way to honor your husband on Father’s Day. thanks for sharing.
This is great! Loved reading it! #6 made me think of my husband! Hahaha. Sounds like you have a winner!
Aw, what a guy! Happy Father’s Day to him!
Can you imagine your life without your Super-Dad in it? I certainly can’t. Every day’s Father’s Day at my house. Otherwise, it would be every day is Mother-Is-Absolutely-Bonkers Day. I hope you all enjoyed it! One day the kids will know just how good they have it.
Sounds like a great guy.
Other than the foot thing, he sounds like a keeper!
Since he doesn’t put his smelly foot in my face, I’m OK with it. If the kids are dumb enough to take a sniff, that’s their business. I know better! But little boys think that stuff is just awesome. And evidently grown men.
Very sweet. Its good to be reminded that families can come through tough times without neccesarily ending in divorce. How lucky you and your children are.
Love that he doesn’t always let the kids win 🙂
Nope, and his parents reminded him that they had to let him win when he was a kid! It’s interesting to watch him play with the kids. I think they do learn some strategy from him. I’m still clueless.
My 7 year old asked me to play chess with him and DEMANDED that I not let him win. Let it be said – never believe a 7 year old who says ‘don’t me win.’ It was NOT pretty. ;p
We’re just so under-appreciated as dads, aren’t we? 😉
Sounds like one of the good guys. Hope his Father’s Day was super.
Yes, I do think sometimes you guys get a bad rap!
I’m sorry to be a “Me Too!” kind of person right now, but…
Me too! Me too! Your husband sounds so much like my husband. Super hands-on and up in the night and does our daughter’s hair and never lets them win at games, etc. and so forth. How lucky are we!
I read in the paper that the divorce rate is actually down among Gen Xers. They attributed it to a couple of factors, and one of those was fathers being more hands-on with parenting and housework than the dads of our parents’ generation. The article said experts believe this has alleviated a lot of stress on the marriage. Hooray for that.
I do think it’s our generation. Men, at least those I know, don’t expect to be waited on. They pitch in and help out. Everything is a partnership. Hallelujah for it!
I love this love letter to your husband! He sounds like a gem and a great partner. I don’t notice and thank my husband as often as I’d like to for all he adds to our family just by being himself. Thanks for the reminder!
I used to think for a daughter mother is the most important thing, but after my dad’s demise, I realized he gives away so much and so seamlessly which you never even realize. Fathers are God’s way of saying you have been blessed!
Both are so important in different ways. But I think dads get overlooked sometimes. They are sweet and silly and sensitive too.
yeah they don’t get their share of appreciation. agreed!
I have a husband like this, too. You’re right- they should be celebrated. Wonderful post.
I think he sounds pretty close to perfect!
A beautiful tribute to a clearly wonderful man, from a clearly wonderful woman. Thank you for sharing with the world.
Russ
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing.