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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.
Not all fathers are created equal, I am learning. From the birth of our son, my husband has changed diapers, washed and fed the baby, disciplined the toddler and now hung out with the big boy while I go to networking events. Apparently this is rare (except for Melanie, who said similar in a recent post).
When I go out, I don’t ask my husband to “babysit.” He’s the father! Babysitters are outside of the immediate family, and he certainly doesn’t qualify. As a mother, yes, I experience that Mother Guilt that makes me feel like I’m the only one who can successfully bandage a boo boo, pack a lunch or comfort my son’s tears. But I know that’s not so, because my husband is equally qualified for the role.I’m not sure why my friends complain about their men being less than willing to help out with parenting tasks. Maybe they just feel more in control if they do it, and their husbands see that and take a back seat. At any rate, I know how lucky I am to have an equal partner in parenting.
~Susan Payton, Sometimes Parenting Sucks
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
I always had a feeling my husband, Joe, would be an amazing father. He loves kids and becomes one of them when he’s around children. But to see him with our son and daughter, it fills my heart with even more love and admiration for him. He’s always showing them how much he loves them, making sure they are tucked in at night, even willing to do a manicure for my 4 year old daughter. Thanks to him, our son loves sports. He hasn’t missed one sports match our son has been in, and is willing to play soccer with him even in 100 degree weather. And when he went on a business trip a few weeks ago, he did not take off the sillybandz bracelets our children gave him for good luck. Even if they looked funny with his suit. I am so grateful that he is such an amazing father.
~Jeannette Kaplun, Todobebé
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.
Aw! Love all the awesome dads out there!!!! How lucky are we who them in our lives? Thank for including me Melanie! xoxox – C
Carol, I think it's important to remind ourselves of just that – how lucky are we to have them in our lives! Thanks for contributing! 🙂
It's wonderful to see that so many kids have involved fathers!
It really is. I'm glad the trend is opposite from what we were probably used to growing up.
My story is best depicted here… http://womenonthefence.com/2010/06/18/lessons-m… I owe ALOT to my father! 😉
Thanks for sharing!
Such a beautiful post!! Thanks for putting this together, Melanie. Reading it, I felt a stab at guilt at not giving myself the time to send you something about my husband.
He is a lovable, hands-on, patient, always, always there father and husband. He truly keeps us girls sane and together. He is giving my daughter the father-figure that I lacked in life (divorced parents) and I always feel blessed that she has him. That WE have him with us.
Don't feel guilty Ana. It's more important to recognize it and tell him – he's the one that really needs to know. 😉
I love this post because it's a beautiful reminder of the wonderful and loving fathers out there — and it's a well-deserved celebration of these great men!
I was so happy to put this together and see that many other women have such great husbands/fathers in their lives.
Such wonderful stories. It is great to hear that there are so many hands on daddies out there. My hubby is one of them, and the kids and I love him for it. Really he is great, from diaper changing to reading them books (even in Spanish with his cute gringo accent), he is the best.
Ana- you are not the only one feeling guilty.
Lisa, it's great to see them interacting and trying isn't it? I love it too when my husband says some Spanish words to her, or understands what I tell her and reinforces it. Don't feel guilty, though. Really, just tell him – they need to be reminded every now and then that they are appreciated.
Carol, I think it's important to remind ourselves of just that – how lucky are we to have them in our lives! Thanks for contributing! 🙂
It really is. I'm glad the trend is opposite from what we were probably used to growing up.
Thanks for sharing!
Don't feel guilty Ana. It's more important to recognize it and tell him – he's the one that really needs to know. 😉
I was so happy to put this together and see that many other women have such great husbands/fathers in their lives.
Lisa, it's great to see them interacting and trying isn't it? I love it too when my husband says some Spanish words to her, or understands what I tell her and reinforces it. Don't feel guilty, though. Really, just tell him – they need to be reminded every now and then that they are appreciated.
He is not only an amazing father but an amazing step father too. When he’s not busy working, he’s managing our sons little league team and when he’s not managing the team, he’s inspiring the kids to read and learn. He’s a wonderful father and the kids don’t know how good they have it. Someday they will look back and appreciate the dedication their father has to them. Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful Dads out there.