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Continuing the conversation about nurturing and attentive fathers, today we’re going to celebrate those special men in our lives. Happy Father’s Day to my own baby-daddy and to all the wonderful, attentive, supportive, and all-around great fathers out there!

I’ll let some other women gush about their special men. Enjoy.

I can’t say I purposely chose a good father for my children. I was 22 when I married, 23 when my first daughter was born. My girls are now 4 and 9 months old and I can confidently say that they have lucked out in the father department. My husband Sasha is hands on. Every morning he wakes up with both of them to let me sleep in until the last possible minute. From the comfort of my warm bed I hear them playing, eating breakfast, I hear him doing his best to make my fashion specific preschooler happy with the outfit choices he picks out, I hear him soothe my pre-walker when she falls. These sounds are like music to me. My girls have their own special relationship with their dad and that brings me joy. When he reads my oldest daughter her bedtime stories and falls asleep beside her in her pink plastic monstrosity of a bed, I often just let them be and snap a photo for my memory bank. It’ll be years before they realize how blessed they are to have a dad that loves them enough to be there for them and smother them with attention but I know one day they will. Happy Father’s Day, Sasha!

~Bunmi Zalob, The Women of Chestnut Street

My husband is one of the best dads in the world. He is in charge of the sleep routine of our two active boys and reads, prays, and teaches them something new every night. He likes to be sure our two angels go to bed knowing how loved they are. I love to see them playing together – it’s like I have 3 kids instead of 2! I’m so proud of him; every day I think about how blessed I am to have such a loving, supporting husband and amazingly involved daddy.

~Silvia, Mama Latina Tips

As far as fathers go, I didn’t grow up with a great one. My father believed that by providing food and shelter he was fulfilling his obligations. Culturally, we were told that the love and emotional support and affection came from the mother, not the father. The father wasn’t the one that ran to you when you were hurt or needed help with homework, or cared for you when you were sick or crying.

Imagine my surprise every single day, as I watch my husband Travis in his role as father. He is a provider, as my father was, but he is also incredibly nurturing and affectionate. From day one, he has been completely hands on and involved. He is gentle, caring, patient, and loving. When I find that I can’t do any more because I am tired or frustrated, or both, he takes over. We talk a lot about the love of a mother for her child, but I have to say, the love my husband has for his children, all three of them, is something I am often both enviable and proud of.

If there has ever been a true example of what a man is, it is my husband with his children. He is our shelter, our rock, our comforter, our joy. We look up to him for so much and he never falters.

My children are truly lucky to have him as a Dad.

~Carol Cain, The Adventures of a NY City Mama

Let’s hear some more great stories! Share with us all about the wonderful father of your children.

My husband is a very attentive father – always has been since our daughter was born. He is known for making up silly songs and stories with our 4 year old. He’s also not afraid to don a fancy feather boa and tiara – whether attending a tea party or just playing dress-up. He also takes good care of our daughter and I can always trust that if I’m away, she’s in good hands.

Now, this may sound like nothing out of the ordinary to you. He’s her father. Of course, he should be attentive and caring, right? While I agree, it seems to be something that surprises many friends and family members. My mother has often been told, “Your son-in-law is a really caring father, isn’t he? So-and-so’s husband doesn’t play with their kids like that!” They are surprised to see a father doing, well, what a father is supposed to be doing – playing, talking, and interacting with his kid.

Apparently, not many men do this with their kids? Or perhaps, only the men in my immediate circle of close friends and family? Maybe it’s just a cultural thing?

I know that growing up our father was very much a provider. He made sure our family was taken care of, but I don’t really remember him playing with me. My papi is the definition of an old-fashioned Puerto Rican man and to this day I am not able to talk freely with him – with the exception of finances. Finances was something he made sure to teach me. How to balance a checkbook? He was all over that. Talking boyfriends? Eh…you better go talk to your mom.

On the contrary, I can see my baby girl being fully comfortable in sharing information with her daddy about her first period or boy trouble. At least, I hope their closeness remains through those years and that regardless of how he may feel, she’ll be able to come to him as much as me.

But, in these early preschool years, I’m baffled as to why my husband’s fatherly behavior is perceived to be so rare. Why are so many women surprised to see him go beyond the “goofy-dad” role and see him actually nurturing, caring, and tending to her?

Do you find that men you know are hands-on fathers or play more of a supportive background role?

Photo provided to Melanie by Mariana

“Working fathers are struggling to juggle the competing demands of family and career, according to a report that shows that they are just as uneasy with their work-life balance as mothers.“

No surprise there. But, perhaps this isn’t obvious to everyone else.

The above quote is from the UK-based article titled Working fathers want more time with their children too. The article outlines some key points from the Fathers, Family and Work report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). A few interesting points in the article:

• 42% of fathers felt they were not able to spend enough time with their children
• About two in five men fear that asking for flexible working arrangements would result in their commitment to their job being questioned.
• “…employers think of women as a potential burden because they worry they will want flexible conditions. It will be helpful for women…once men are also seen as likely to demand flexible working.”

I guess it’s good for formal research to be completed and a report published on what I feel is something most men and women probably already knew. I know that my husband struggles with being a working dad just as much as I do with being a working mom. Of course he wants to spend more time with baby girl. And of course he has a hard time with balancing it all. He often works with me on planning our evening schedules and household calendar to try to manage all aspects of our daily lives.

Is this news to you or does this just confirm what you already knew? Let me know in the comments what you think of the article, the report, or just working dads in general.

That tweet was sent out yesterday morning. Why? Because it was too freaking cute to not be shared.

It nearly melted my heart to hear her say it with such conviction. She didn’t even think twice about it. Just plain and simple.

“I like my daddy!”

I immediately told my husband of course, who happened to be at the store. You could hear the smile in his voice. That man was proud and definitely felt loved. And, rightfully so. His three year old daughter just proclaimed him to be the center of her life!

I got a response from @TRONash that pretty much sums up how most daddies would feel…at least I think.

I later asked my husband how he felt when I told him about it. He confirmed that he felt proud. But, he also said it made him feel like he was doing a decent job.

I would have to agree.

Oh! And why was I asking my daughter that question? Because I was taking the “What Disney Princess are You?” quiz on Facebook. Her responses led to her being Aurora. Because I know you were dying to know.