The Awesome Job of Being a Father
June 20, 2011
“He made the terrible discovery that men make about their fathers sooner or later… that the man before him was not an aging father but a boy, a boy much like himself, a boy who grew up and had a child of his own and, as best he could, out of a sense of duty and, perhaps love, adopted a role called Being a Father so that his child would have something mythical and infinitely important: a Protector, who would keep a lid on all the chaotic and catastrophic possibilities of life.”
by Tom Wolf.
The calls started early this morning. My beloved husband has 4 children…two of them with me…two of them I fell in love with as I did him, 32 years ago. We are a family. Not unlike every other family, we are not perfect. That being said, I know that each one of our children love and adore their father. He is a man of limitless support. He is a man who quietly but deliberately clears the way for each of them to the best of his ability. He has enough love to envelope those young ones who have wondered into our lives, not biologically his, but love them he does.
My husband doesn’t gush, yet he tells each one of them, every time he prepares to end a phone conversation, that he loves them. He inquires about the condition of their tires; their jobs, their relationships. He offers encouragement and advice, mostly about following their dreams, overcoming fear and using their voices to ask for what they need. He once treated our teenage daughter to a pedicure and ended up coming home with bright pink polish on each of his own toes. He has taught them to fly fish, raft, climb mountains, generally love the out-of-doors.
My children see in him what they believe in and what they want to be. They see a man able to laugh and play like a boy who will never stop seeing the world thru eyes of wonder. They see a man who never has to contemplate what truly matters. And they see a parent who will always love
them unconditionally.
My husband does an awesome job of Being a Father.
Matters That Matter ® 
June 20, 2011 at 5:50 am
Beautifully said Kristen.
June 20, 2011 at 5:58 am
Loving knows no bounds in your household. How lucky you are to have each other – and how lucky I feel to be a small part of that lovingness…xoxoxox
June 20, 2011 at 7:35 am
A lovely thing to read.Communicating love is a bountiful treasure. Glad he is in the world and a father.
June 20, 2011 at 1:02 pm
Oh Kristine…I never EVER miss one of your blogs…! I always read and FEEL..and think..and mull…and imagine..and truly sink into your words. How beautiful is this..How much love oozes from every syllable…My God..you are a lucky woman..and he a lucky man..and all in all..a wonderfully amazing family!
xoxoxox!
June 20, 2011 at 2:26 pm
Kristine~beautiful~for we should all always see the world eager to treasure and explore it wonders especially in family bonds. How truly beautiful this post it~TY for sharing your light of family and friends.
June 20, 2011 at 3:14 pm
A wonderful tribute to a wonderful dad.
Hope he had a great day yesterday!
June 20, 2011 at 4:21 pm
we have had to work…I mean to the bone, to have what we have now. believe me, there have been days of such mass imperfection that I thought a long drive off a short pier was just the ticket FOR HIM. But we have done the work and I am grateful beyond measure.
Thank you one and all for your constantly love and support.
June 20, 2011 at 4:29 pm
David IS all that. He’s always been
such fine “Material” — you’re able to
put his essence into words like nobody
else. oxox
June 20, 2011 at 5:22 pm
this is so beautiful, and true of every word. Daddy David is a precious man who loves with every fiber of his being. I know I am lucky to be a part of such a family. Hope you all shared a special day together to celebrate him…you were all in our hearts! Kai & I send our love…miss you always!
June 21, 2011 at 4:56 am
No great truth was ever spoken.
June 26, 2011 at 4:11 am
How you hold him dear is heart warming to read. I can feel how you treasure & cherish him. Beautiful.