I have many excellent fathers in my life. My own dad, who gave me life and could easily take it away again. My step-dad, who helped my mom raise me; not an easy feat. My father-in-law, who taught me the art of shoving toys in babies diapers.
But most of this week my mind has been on Brett, and the type of dad he is.
When I was about to give birth to my perfect angel first born, I had low expectations of Brett as a father. Not because he wasn't an awesome man. On the contrary, it was because he exceeded perfection that I naturally assumed he would have to lack in some aspects of life.
Also, his dad thinks babies look like aliens with giant heads. So, having been raised by a non-baby-lover, I thought, "Like Father like Son."
I couldn't have been more wrong.
Oh boy, I couldn't have been more wrong.
Brett held Cohen to his chest within the first minutes of his little life. He clung to him, kissed his tiny bald head, looked into his eyes and talked to him.
Like a man.
He talked to my new born, precious angel baby like a man. And hasn't stopped since.
His goal in life is to not let his children feel unnecessary sadness. I mean, maybe he didn't set out to do this, but he's accomplished it. If they're upset over something trivial, he bangs his head into the wall to make them laugh. He pops his nose. He makes fart noises. He is obnoxiously loud and hilarious. He warns them not to laugh, which, invariably, makes us all crack up.
But he also cares very much that they understand the why's behind everything. Before any of our kids can whine, "But whhhyyyyy!" Brett is three steps ahead, saying, "Do you want to know why we're doing this?"
Often he explains it in simple terms.
Sometimes he attaches scriptures to it.
Always, he backs it up with love.
He hugs. He high fives. He drives them to soccer, to dance. He goes out at night to bring home ice cream. He keeps us knee deep in candy.
He wakes up with them at night so that they have a happy(ish) mom in the morning. He reads bed time stories.
He works so hard. He chooses to work from home to be closer to us. He takes time to be with his kids. He takes time to read scriptures, to join FHE.
He kisses me in front of the kids. He shows them how to love their future spouse by loving me in front of them.
He gives us all confidence. He helps us all grow.
He is a great example of Heavenly love. I'm so grateful for him. And I know are kids are.
Happy Faja's Day, sweet man. I love you.
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