With Father's Day around the corner, I've been thinking a lot about good dads. Specifically, I've been thinking that our kid is pretty darn lucky to have an awesome dad. Those of you that know G even a little bit are probably shocked to hear this. Believe me, it was a bit of a shock to me, too, and he may have even surprised himself a little. But when it comes to parenting, my husband's kind of da bomb.
Lately, I feel like I've heard a lot about friends' husbands who don't "help" out as much around the house or with the kids. To be honest, I think it rubs me the wrong way to hear it phrased quite that way. I mean, I could care less how other people about it. But if G were to talk to me about “helping” me to parent OUR child, I’d be pretty livid. Because doesn’t helping make it sound like it’s my responsibility to begin with and he's doing me a favor by chipping in? I don’t know, at least that’s the way I’d see it, but that’s probably another rant for a different day. Maybe you'll be lucky and I'll go off on it at the next party like I've been known to in the past.
Fortunately for all of us, my husband seems to view parenting the way I do. Sure he might ask me about "babysitting" our child, but only because he knows it annoys me. He knows how ridiculous it sounds. I've never had to ask for "help." He does for our daughter happily what a good parent would do . . . feed her, bathe her, play with her, tell her he loves her, wake up with her in the middle of the night. I don't think there's a single aspect of parenthood that he hasn't dived into with equal enthusiasm. Well, ok, enthusiasm is a strong word. Oh, and he probably doesn't spend hours on the internet reading about how to regulate naps or make baby food. But for the most part, we're a team, and I'm reminded of it daily.
Lately, I feel like I've heard a lot about friends' husbands who don't "help" out as much around the house or with the kids. To be honest, I think it rubs me the wrong way to hear it phrased quite that way. I mean, I could care less how other people about it. But if G were to talk to me about “helping” me to parent OUR child, I’d be pretty livid. Because doesn’t helping make it sound like it’s my responsibility to begin with and he's doing me a favor by chipping in? I don’t know, at least that’s the way I’d see it, but that’s probably another rant for a different day. Maybe you'll be lucky and I'll go off on it at the next party like I've been known to in the past.
Fortunately for all of us, my husband seems to view parenting the way I do. Sure he might ask me about "babysitting" our child, but only because he knows it annoys me. He knows how ridiculous it sounds. I've never had to ask for "help." He does for our daughter happily what a good parent would do . . . feed her, bathe her, play with her, tell her he loves her, wake up with her in the middle of the night. I don't think there's a single aspect of parenthood that he hasn't dived into with equal enthusiasm. Well, ok, enthusiasm is a strong word. Oh, and he probably doesn't spend hours on the internet reading about how to regulate naps or make baby food. But for the most part, we're a team, and I'm reminded of it daily.
When I first went back to work after maternity leave, he took a few weeks off to stay home with our then 6-month old. He'd send me photo updates throughout the day. During that time, and any time when I've gone to work and he hasn't, he takes night shifts, knowing he might be able to catch a few zzz's during the day. I don't have to ask, he just does. When's the little D's been sick (and that's been often), we take turns staying home with her. When she gets up at night, he's gotten up just as often as I have, if not more. Sure, when I was breastfeeding, it was a little hard for him to contribute the same way. But even those nights, as soon as I went back to work, he took his turn changing diapers and putting D to sleep after she nursed. When it comes to me taking time away from D, he's never been anything but encouraging. It's hard for me to leave her but never been hard for him to take on the challenge. I'd hesitantly propose one night, he inevitably says take two. Sometimes, ok, often, in the mornings on weekends, I roll over and say, "Maybe you could go grab her." And he mostly always does.
These days, sometimes, our kid plays favorites. But she'll just as often cry out for dada as she does for me. When he's gone, she'll look for him. She asks for him as soon as she wakes up in the morning. Whether she's with me or her dad, she is guaranteed the same naps, the same meals, the same basic routine. I've never worried that he'll forget to change her diaper or feed her on schedule. I don't leave him to-do lists. Sure, there were those times she fell off the high chair and opened a bottle of Excedrin on his watch, but she survived.
We do more than our share of fighting. A few weeks ago, he got the kid hooked on pub mix. And of course he works too much. But D will never find him to be anything less than an active parent. A few weeks ago, a friend watched him playing with both our girls and made a comment about he was a natural at parenting. While I sometimes get bored putting the same puzzle together a million times, G was telling me lately that he "liked hanging out" with our kid and always had a good time. Whatever.
Anyway, I don't know how you do, but I love that you've always taken on the challenge of parenting as a 2-man job. And your kid might just love you more than me. Happy father's day!\
]=
We do more than our share of fighting. A few weeks ago, he got the kid hooked on pub mix. And of course he works too much. But D will never find him to be anything less than an active parent. A few weeks ago, a friend watched him playing with both our girls and made a comment about he was a natural at parenting. While I sometimes get bored putting the same puzzle together a million times, G was telling me lately that he "liked hanging out" with our kid and always had a good time. Whatever.
Anyway, I don't know how you do, but I love that you've always taken on the challenge of parenting as a 2-man job. And your kid might just love you more than me. Happy father's day!\
]=
No comments:
Post a Comment