I going to take my blog down a personal road and highlight my husband Steve today, on Father’s Day. Steve and I have been a couple for almost 24 years. He is so many things to me….my high school sweetheart, my sweet husband, my very best friend, confidant, counselor, physician (assistant), therapist, business advisor, financial advisor, beauty advisor, the list goes on and on…but his most important job is that he is the father of our children. Raising kids is not easy and sometimes I feel sorry for him and have even asked him….”When you were little did you ever ‘dream’ of what your life would be like with kids?”….and he just gives me that look. We are raising 3 boys (and one darling daughter) and I know that boys don’t carry that same dream of raising kids that girls do. Boys meet THE girl, fall in love, get married and then….well… here come the kids. Before you know it the boys find themselves learning about all sorts of stuff they didn’t necessarily WANT to know about but now they do, and a change occurs. They actually LOVE those little people and the paternal instinct takes over. The boy now has a higher calling, provide and protect, because he is now someone’s father.
Steve rose to parenthood possibly better than I did. I have always had preconceived notions or expectations of what being a mother would be like. Steve had NO IDEA what to expect so he just rolled with it as most men probably do and it’s what might make men better parents. I didn’t expect colic to come when Spencer was a baby. Steve (like most guys) figured, if we’re going to have a baby in the house it’s probably going to be crying (A LOT). He rolled with it. I didn’t expect my kids to get hurt or sick. Steve did. I didn’t think my kids would be naughty or need discipline, Steve did.
Being a Dad is different, and I’m so thankful for that. At every age he has put himself at their level and made their interests his own. Over the years he has been able to carefully keep one eye on the child and at all times knew exactly where their coveted blankie was. He could find a loose piece of an action figure & know exactly which one it belonged too. Chick flicks, High School musical or Hannah Montana don’t bother him.. (Toddler’s and Tiara’s might though). He loves sports and introduced our youngest sports enthusiast to football pools at an early age, gambling at 10 is acceptable, right? He has a love for music that has been contagious and we have an iTunes library that could rival the best of them. He knows how to fix just about anything & our kids know it. He’s also not afraid to say “I don’t know”…and then search for the answer…. Heellooooo Google! He plays with them, hugs them, wrestles with them, laughs with them, encourages them , disciplines them & loves them.
So thank you, Steve, for being the kind of Dad who’s willing to go the distance for us, not out of obligation but out of love. Thanks for having a great sense of humor. …For carrying pictures of them in your wallet where your money used to be. … For taking us on vacations you can’t afford to make memories they can’t afford to live without…. For all of the examinations, advise & counseling….. For being real smart in math (because I am NOT)….. For reminding them that you’re stronger than them (mentally & physically)….For appreciating hard rock….. For having a “Chick songs” playlist on your iPod….For getting up in the middle of the night with our nocturnal dog….For loving Youtube videos…..For not being as scared as I am to ride in the passenger seat when our kids are driving….For allowing me to say “just wait ’til I tell you Dad”….For being flexible and able to roll through the changes that life brings….& most of all for loving their Mom.
Here are a handful of photos of this man that has been a blessing in my life in more ways than I can ever count….. Happy Father’s Day, Steve. I love you, babe.
by Terri
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