Over the past few days, THIS ARTICLE by Jeff Pearlman has been circulating around my social media pages. In it, Jeff lists his ’10 commandments of righteous fatherhood’. His suggestions for successful fatherhood include everything from waking up with your kids in the morning, to painting your toenails pink, and ordering the wife to ‘bug off’ once in a while for time to herself.
I’ve got to be honest, I read through it, and my first thought was: ‘Duh?’
Do dad’s REALLY need this check list? Are there dudes out there who don’t think about things like this? Or am I just extremely lucky with my choice of partner and baby daddy?
Then I read the comments from the article. Apparently, I am extremely lucky. And not only lucky, I’m blessed. Not only does my husband not think twice about changing diapers, but he pretty much does 100% of night feedings (once we switched to formula obviously) for both boys. He’s constantly shooing me out the door, knowing sometimes before I do when I’ve hit a breaking point (or will soon) and need some time to myself or time with my girlfriends. He’s been planning since the Mouse was still in utero, to pull him out of school one day when he’s 7 years old, and take him to his first Rangers game, just the two of them.
Today is Father’s Day, and I hope my husband reads this at some point. I hope he knows that even though sometimes I get stressed, and upset, and grouchy, and moody about something he has, or hasn’t done … that I realize that he is a wonderful daddy, and an exceptional husband. That I know that even though he didn’t rinse that plate off when he threw it in the sink last night (and thus, making me mutter under my breath this morning), that he spends 100% of his day thinking about me and his boys, and how much he loves us.
I hope that he knows that even though I get a little stabby when he let’s the Mouse stay up until 9pm, or when I come home to find 8 pairs of his shoes strewn across the living room, or when somehow, the yard doesn’t get cleaned up for 3 weeks in a row … that all the time he spends reading bedtime stories to the Mouse, the snuggle time with the Froggy, the games of Chutes and Ladders, the tee-ball practice in the backyard, the night-time bottles, all of the IMPORTANT stuff more than makes up for the silly little things that make me cranky.
So husband of mine, I DO NOT bequeath you Jeff’s Father’s Day article. You don’t need it. You are awesome, and this day is for celebrating you.
Happy Father’s Day.
You ARE a lucky wife and mother, but you’ve provided a good example as well <3 Happy Father's Day J!
That article was a little depressing. I also can’t imagine having a husband who did NOT do those things in that list. My husband is the most amazing, most involved, most present father I have ever known. He loves getting up with C and playing on Saturday mornings to let me sleep in, or taking C with him to the store or the park for an hour or two so that I can have some alone time to take a bath, work on projects, or just be by myself. He does diapers, he does bathtime, he does mealtime, he shares each and every parenting responsibility we have. I count my blessings every day for this man who will be my partner in raising our sons. You and I are some of the lucky ones.
I had the exact same thoughts when I read that article. “Um…isn’t this what all Dad’s do?” I mean my hubby does all those things without being “told”. And I couldn’t believe the comments! I had to stop reading after like 5 b/c my blood was beginning to boil. We truly are blessed and lucky women Tottums.
Happy Father’s Day to your fantastic hubby! 
Ahhh….yes, the article. I will probably be in the minority with the other comments. You all are lucky. My husband, while he does do fun things with the kids at times, does the handy and yardwork, and works the same 8 hour job that I do…that is about all he does. I come home from work to a mess of a house (which wasn’t messy when I left for work) and he definitely doesn’t do any housework unless guilted into it. He would definitely rather be riding his motorcycle or playing a computer game than pretty much anything else. I know he loves us but he wasn’t raised to show it. His father never showed it to him and his siblings and he turned out the same way. I am lucky if we have a 5 minute conversation each day. I know I am in a rut. I have contemplated leaving and still do. He just doesn’t see the light, even if I shine it directly in his face.
I think your husband seems awesome, Totty! I can tell you two really do love and cherish one another and that is something special. God bless! And Happy Father’s Day to him!!
Every day is a chance to turn things around, Nicole. Good luck to you and your family. ((hugs))