A Good Dad

What makes a good dad?

Is it the number of minutes he spends with his kids? The number of diapers he changes? The number of boo-boo's he kisses? The number of times he puts the kids to bed? Gives them a bath?

Not to me.

• A good dad makes the most of the time he has with his children.  
• A good dad loves to get the phone calls during the day hearing about what his sons did, even if it leaves him feeling a little jealous/disappointed that he wasn't there for it.
• A good dad works his ass off to provide for his family, knowing that that might mean he has to miss moments, events, lessons. It doesn't mean he likes it; he just knows he is doing what has to be done.
• A good dad loves his children with every fiber of his being and that love radiates from him when he is with his children, or looking at pictures of them...or bragging about them.

I know so many great dads out there.  Both my younger brother and my older brother get shout-outs here.  Brandon..Jason..you guys rock the definition of dad! You both work so hard to provide for your families.  And even though you don't get to be home all day with your kiddos, we all see the love and devotion and pride you have for your children.  So keep it up!

Then there's my dad.  Growing up, my dad was in the Navy so he had to be gone a lot.  But I don't believe for a second that he didn't hate that part of his job.  But he was doing what he had to do to provide for his wife and five children.  There was a time when he worked 3 jobs so that my mom could continue to stay home with us and raise us.  What do I remember most about my childhood when I think of my dad?  Him coaching our teeball, baseball and softball teams.  He and my mom taking us to church every Sunday and Wednesday.  Him giving me flowers after my dance recitals and school plays.  How he looked forward to the father/daughter dances at wedding we would go to.  You see..he made the most of the time he was with us.  And now he is getting to be part of our kids' lives in ways he's never experienced before since he is no longer in the military.  And it's really cool.

And of course, I saved the best for last.

My husband is my rock; he is our family's provider.  He works extra hard so I can stay home and raise our boys.  And I fully understand that that means I tend to take on more of the parenting responsibilities.  But why wouldn't I?  I'm home with the kids all day long...I get a lot more time with the kids than my husband does.  In a perfect world, we would need no money and would both stay home full time, raising our kids and doing all the chores together. 

But it doesn't work that way.  And sometimes, yes, cries for "Mommy" are heard more often.  Sometimes, mommy's kisses fix the scraped knee better than daddy's do.  And sometimes only mommy gets the good hugs while daddy gets a grin, a giggle and a "no hug for daddy!"....

But you know what else there is? 

Giggles from a naked toddler running through the house shouting "SUPER STREAK!! Daddy's gonna getchya!" 

Heart-melting smiles from a 6 month old the MINUTE he hears his dad's voice when he gets home.

The sight of my toddler following my husband around while he fixes this 'n that.

My toddler rummaging through my husband's bathroom drawer (despite being told not to several times) saying "gotta shave like daddy does!"

Nights when my toddler sits curled up in his daddy's lap, showing him different things on the ipad.

These things?  These are what make a good great dad.  My boys love their daddy so much; not because they see him as much as they do me.  Not because he changes their diapers as much as I do or because he feeds them or bathes them as much as I do...No, it's because he makes the most of his time when he's with them.  They feel his love, his devotion, his pride for them.  And they know...and will always know..they are lucky to have such a great dad!

And Me?  I'm lucky my kids have such a great dad..and that I have such a great husband and partner in life.  We've been blessed and thank God every day for it.