I Have Two Amazing Fathers In My Life

I’m cheating a little. I’m writing this on Saturday. Tomorrow, we have family plans. But today my husband, who got done with a 12 hour shift at 9 o’clock this morning, has taken our daughter to the zoo and left me home to relax a little.

How did I get this gig, right? In truth, I needed the time. I currently work a full-time job, plus writing for this amazing website (and some of its friends), plus going back to school, plus being a parent. In other words, I completely understood what Shawna was talking about when she said almost all mothers feel overwhelmed. But no matter how hectic life gets, I feel so incredibly lucky to have a loving and caring husband to share it with. I wasn’t always positive that it would turn out like this.

When I was a little girl, my mother’s best friend told me that I was going to have a hard time getting married. “Why?” I asked, petrified that she was about to tell me that I had a serious problem. “You’re spoiled,” she said. “You will never find a man as wonderful as your father. There’s just no way any guy can measure up.”

She was correct in one way, my dad sets a pretty high standard. He’s one of the most generous men I’ve ever met, not just with money but with time and energy. He’s happy to help everyone, no matter how many other things he has to do. My dad and I still talk everyday. We get together for lunch once every couple of weeks. And he babysits my daughter frequently. To say the very least, we’re close. So I’m pretty sure my husband does feel like he has some serious expectations to live up to.

Getting married and having a new man to lean on was a big adjustment. I can still remember the first time I got a flat tire after my husband I had moved in together. It was 6:30 in the morning, I was taking my daughter to daycare. I was even driving my husband’s car. But I called my dad to help me change the tire. (Let’s not talk about the fact that I need help to change a tire, it frustrates all the men in my life and I’m trying to honor them here.) In fact, I didn’t even tell my husband that it happened until that afternoon. It just didn’t occur to me that I should call anyone but my dad.

But no matter who I call first, my husband is always there for me. He takes the reins when I need to slow down. He loves our daughter with a sincerity and depth that warms my heart. He’s patient and kind, when either of his princesses is having a bad day. He keeps our whole house happy and optimistic. Really, I just don’t have the vocabularly to describe how wonderful he is.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have two spectacular men in my life. They’ve supported me and strengthened me. They believe in me when I make crazy decisions, like trying to start a new career without quitting the old one. They selflessly pick up the slack when I need to let go for a bit.

Fathers aren’t often praised for the work in our homes. We spend a lot of time saying how much they don’t do. But here at Mommyish, we also like to point out how amazing they can be. Sometimes, even more amazing than us! Personally, I would not be as good of a mother if I didn’t have my husband by my side. I would not be as good of a person if I didn’t have my father’s love and encouragement. So on Father’s Day, I just want to say thank you. And I love you.

Tell me about the amazing men in your life. Let’s celebrate the guys who make our days easier, our heads clearer and our smiles brighter. And don’t forget to tell them how much they mean, too.

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