Fathers

This has been the Week from Hell* and I could go on and on about the injustices and annoyances and how bitter and angry and sad I’ve felt numerous times over the course of the week. I could complain about the pump dying and being without water with two little ones since Tuesday night. About missing out on my much anticipated “Amber’s Night”. About being pulled over and realizing my insurance was expired. About my dog biting (yes BITING) the neighbour.
I want to. I want to just gripe and moan and feel downright sorry for myself.
Then I realized that this weekend is Father’s Day. After a week where a rather big part of me would like to give Steve a huge slap upside the head (and he deserves it, trust me), I really wasn’t in the mood to celebrate the man. Then I thought, hell, let it go girl.
Steve is a lot of things. He has the ability to procrastinate like no one else I know. He won’t, and probably never will, win the award for Most Considerate Man. He needs to be told, in Capital Letters, how I want to be appreciated and what I want for my birthday. Seriously, if I don’t actually say “Tonight you will go to this store and buy me this purchase for my birthday” I will get nothing. Not even a card (I used to get a card, but now he’s decided they’re environmentally unfriendly).
That said, he is also a great man. He prides himself in the work he does at his job, and has worked really hard to get to where he is right now and he’s good at it. He is gentle and patient and accepts me for the person I am, annoying faults and all. He will drive 45 minutes back to Nanaimo to pick up my purse, sunglasses or wallet because I left them somewhere, with no more than a joking jibe in my direction. He’ll let me give birth at home even though he was more than a little apprehensive. He’ll let me feed him natural peanut butter, and stop buying cheese. He’ll let me throw out all the plastic toys and bottles and not think I’ve lost my mind.
And he is an incredible father. Its been a joy to watch him with his children. He is attentive and protective, moreso than I could ever be and he makes me want to be the best Mama I can be. In the evenings when he is putting Callum in bed and the monitor is on I can hear him gently reading to our son, and then hear them throwing kisses to each other after he tucks Callum in bed. He’ll curl up next to his little girl and quietly talk to her, and her eyes light up with pure joy. If we’re out with friends, he gladly follows Callum around for hours, without complaining that he hasn’t had a chance to sit around and chat or drink a beer. He gets Callum out of bed in the mornings and gives him breakfast because he knows that if I have a chance to get dressed and showered first thing, I can take the kids to the park or go for a walk and we’re all a little happier. He always calls to let me know if he’ll be a little late and checks that its ok because he knows that the dinner hour can get a little crazy.

Even after a week where I just want to curl up in my bed, knit, and pretend the world doesn’t exist, I feel honored to be his wife and the mother of his children. So, a warm and loving Happy Father’s Day to the man in my life, and Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there!
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*The one sunny part of this week is that I finally got to meet the adorable Miss Gwen for the first time, which was a real delight. She was perfect and all smiles and coos the entire time I visited. There is talk that she can scream like no other, but I feel her parents lie. There was not even whimper the entire time I was there, even though Claire had two fits. Even if Laura refuses to call it crying

6 Responses to “Fathers”

1. Michelle says:

   June 13, 2008 at 5:30 pm

   you’ve brought a tear to my eye, and made me appreciate being a wife and mother myself!
2. tarrah says:

   June 13, 2008 at 5:45 pm

   that’s like, the sweetest post ever. You guys are a rockin’ family.
3. pogonip says:

   June 13, 2008 at 5:49 pm

   Yeah, that Y chromosome drives me nuts and then he does the nicest thing and I have to stop my evil thoughts. Bummer. Hope you all have a wonderful Father’s Day–especially nice this year with both a young man and a little lady.
4. Grandma says:

   June 13, 2008 at 8:01 pm

   What a wonderful comment on a great father–count your blessings and celebrate father’s day in the sunshine on the water!!!!
5. Mom says:

   June 14, 2008 at 8:43 pm

   Wow! You are a lucky woman, and he is a very lucky guy!! Love you both, Have a Great Father’s Day!
6. Laura says:

   June 16, 2008 at 7:47 am

   What a lovely post! I hope you shared all these warm thoughts with Steve