To: My Wonderful Husband
From: Me
On: Your Fourth Father’s Day
Here are all the amazing things you do as a dad that I can neither duplicate nor even comprehend… but it works!
- When you look at our tiny toddler, then the huge playground, and conclude, “She can climb that.” Then, one day, she does. I conclude you must have been teaching to her while I was out.
- As a result, she becomes willing to run down a very steep hill at full speed ahead. It seems she has done this before. No amount of falling dissuades her from continuing. I conclude you must have been encouraging this in her while I was out.
- When she wasn’t willing to go into the water last week but this week, she is swimming on her own (with floaties, but still.) I am relieved at skipping all the tears. I conclude you must have been working on this with her while I was out.
- When my baby loves being covered in dirt and mud, sword-fighting with sticks and throwing stones, exploring all the crevices of the forest and lake. She is comfortable in the wild (well, relative to suburbia). I conclude you must have been developing this in her while I was out.
- When you discover how to fuel her exploration and yours together through bike rides to new playgrounds. She loves jumping in the bike trailer and feeling the wind in her face. I conclude you must have been growing this in her while I was out.
- When she didn’t know how to play pretend last week but this week, hosts a tea party and invites her furry friends. I love watching her feed you pretend-soup from her play kitchen. I conclude you must have been modeling this for her while I was out.
- When she prefers riding on your shoulders to any other carrier or carry-position. She has the best view of life from way up there and she no longer squirms. I conclude you must have been doing this with her while I was out.
There are so many more moments: of punny jokes and family game nights and powerful prayers and heartfelt conversations that open my eyes to what an amazing father you are becoming.
I thank you for all that you are teaching me and our daughter, every day, about the importance of loving fathers for the health of a child’s heart.
I love you 💕