Saturday, April 6, 2013

F is for Fathers

From the time I was a little girl I knew I wanted to be a mother one day. Mothering is something that comes naturally to me, and I can honestly say I've enjoyed every stage of parenting experienced thus far except of course that 7th grade year.


One of the things I've appreciated most about this 'job' called parenting, has been my hubs. We absolutely approach life differently, but are rock solid together on what's truly important. We are in sync when it comes to our values and our goals, and what exactly we want poured into our children before they fly the coop.

fyi-they've more or less flown the coop.

I know there are so many moms and dads out there going it alone, often not by choice, who have to deal with cranky toddlers and surly teens all by themselves. I feel for them, because this parenting thing?  It's not always smooth sailing.

It helps to have someone to bounce things off of, someone to offer an alternative point of view, to be the voice of reason when hormones or too little sleep rule the day. A husband who tells you you're a good mother when you've said or done something that has you wondering why you ever thought you should be in charge of an actual human.


I won't quote all the studies that show the tremendous impact a father can have on his daughter's emotional and physical health, but they're out there for the googling. Suffice it to say that girls often form opinions about men in general at an early age based on how they were treated by their fathers.  Daughters also observe the way their father treats their mother, and very often this is the template they follow in their own relationships later in life.

My girls are close to their dad, and he thinks they hung the moon. Since we've landed on the letter F in the A-Z today, I thought I'd share five things my hubs has done for his daughters that I consider to be fabulous.

1.  He brings the Fun.  Yes, with a capital F.  Seriously, it's a gift.


Hubs can make anything fun, and when it comes to raising children, that my friends, is a talent worth its weight in gold.

2.  He's fearless in all the ways that count.


Killing spiders of the jumbo variety? Check.
Eager to try new things? Check.
Living in a houseful of women? Check.

3.  He flies right.


Integrity is a word you don't often hear anymore, but hubs has integrity. He's set a good example for his daughters, one of hard work and doing the right thing.


4.  He flirts with their mother.

It matters.
Just sayin'.

5.  His love is unfailing.


He would literally throw himself in front of a speeding train, run into a burning building, or give an old-fashioned talkin' to, to any fella who treated his girls in a manner less than they deserve. The love he has for his daughters has not wavered since they drew their first breath. Before they drew their first breath.


He looks at his 20-something young adult children and still sees the pony-tailed girls of yesteryear. He longs to keep them close...to never let a single thing hurt them...to keep life's cruelties at bay. He knows that isn't always possible or even always good, so he bites his lip and smiles. He says you are awesome and smart and beautiful.

He says dream big dreams, go for it, you can do it.


And so they do.

29 comments:

  1. Your husband sounds absolutely FABULOUS! Beautiful family photos! Wish you were in them too. Say, I have two twenty- something sons...
    What a fantastic tribute to your husband!

    Julie

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  2. Such a great post, it was a joy to read. He deserves all the accolades.

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  3. Love this.....he is a great guy! Lucky girls! Have a wonderful weekend!

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  4. Awesome post! I have no doubt he's a wonderful father!

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  5. What an absolutely outstanding tribute to your hubby. Well done!

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  6. You are so blessed in many ways my friend. But in the husband area- you won the lottery!

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  7. Aww, I love this. He is a big old hunk of honey!

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  8. What a wonderful tribute - the world needs many, many more Fathers like this. Blessings abundant!

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  9. Your words do a wonderful job of telling the kind of father your husband is, but the pictures alone show so much about what a loving dad he is.

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  10. God has definitely blessed you and your girls.

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  11. Loved this! Your girls are blessed indeed (as are you) because I think you are soo right. Nothing quite like a daddy's love!

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  12. Fabulous tribute to your hubs.

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  13. As always Joyce, the pictures are precious. You are creating the best scrapbook! You have all been blessed to have such a wonderful man in your lives. ((HUGS))

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  14. beautifully said--you can't over state the importance of daddy's esp. with the way their girls look at future husbands :)

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  15. Very nice post! Thank you for sharing.

    Mary
    www.maryeagius.com

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  16. I agree with you, Joyce. Fathers are so very important. I have a wonderful Dad(who is in Heaven now), and Mister is a wonderful Dad and Grandad. We are lucky gals who have had the privilege of being around wonderful, loving men our entire life.

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  17. This is great Joyce! What a great tribute and love the pics!
    until next time...nel

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  18. Those girls are blessed to have a daddy like that!

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  19. God bless your family !
    loved reading this
    Every family should blossom with same kind of love and relations

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  20. touchwood ! that is such a sweet post ! He sounds like an amazing man :D

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  21. This was an amazing post. Your husband is awesome. Thank you for letting us into your life. The pictures were great!

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  22. That's so amazing. I wish all parents could be like that.

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  23. Your tribute to your hubs is absolutely beautiful! What a great hubs and dad!! Thanks so much for sharing. And I love the photos . . .

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  24. This is the most beautiful F post I've read. Beautiful!!

    Connie
    A to Z buddy
    Peanut Butter and Whine

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  25. He's clearly a great guy - and your girls are gorgeous!

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  26. What a lovely tribute to your husband. You are so right, about the emotional impact that a father has on his growing daughter. This was a wonderful post.

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  27. Such a great post about Daddy- every bit of it true! I am the luckiest daughter to have two amazing parents.

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  28. Such a beautiful tribute to your husband. You are truly blessed. Looks like you've both done a great job w/ your girls!
    from The Dugout

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