Sunday, June 17, 2012

A Father's Love

I can't say I know what it means to be a father.  I can't say that I understand the pressures a father feels to provide for and protect his family.  I can't say that I understand what it means to worry about running your own business and being responsible for not only your family, but for all the families of your employees.


What I can say is that I have been blessed with having a father who provided, loved and cared for our family growing up.









I have also been blessed with being married to a man who's father provided, loved and cared for him.




Both of our dads worked long days and long hours, but managed to be close to their kids on an emotional level.  Both of our dads prioritized their marriages and then their children, which gave their families a healthy belief in the meaning of marriage and mom and dad.


Tom typically  works six days a week.  Two of those days are "long" days where he is usually at work until about 10pm. But his long hours don't take away from his devotion and care of his family.




He has all but given up his once excellent golf game because of his long work hours and his choice to spend his down time with us.




He stays up late and wakes up early.



Even when he walks in the door at 10pm, he always does the job of mixing all of Joey's bottles for the next day.  Two 5 ounce bottles of water with 2 ounces of thickener, four six ounce bottles of 2% milk with 3 ounces of thickener.  He shakes each bottle until it is perfectly mixed while he reads the newspaper. His nightly bottle making ritual is just one of the many ways he shows us how much he loves us.




His love for his sons is immeasurable. He is our rock through every issue Joey faces. He is strong, even-tempered and patient. He does not worry like I do and if he does, he hides it very well so I don't worry even more.




His patience, laughter and love is what I hope they will learn from him.  His dedication to his family and his hard work ethic is what I hope they will emulate. Will our boys one day be fathers?  It's possible.  I hope so.  The likelihood of Joey becoming a father is extremely rare.  Whether or not they become fathers, I am grateful that they have such a supportive, loving and involved father. The lessons they learn from him will follow them for the rest of their lives.




To have grown up with such a good role-model for a father and to have married a man who is the kind of father I could not have dreamed of is more than I thought possible.


Thank you, Dad.  Thank you, Tom.  Thank you, Mr. T.  Happy Father's Day to all the dads, uncles and fathers.  


How did your dad show his love for you?

2 comments:

  1. This made me cry. You are one lucky lady and the boys are very blessed to have such a wonderful family :) Happy Father's Day!

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