Lessons Learned the Odd Way

Please welcome my guest blogger, Mommy the Maid as part of the Blog Exchange.

If there were grades given for attendance and effort in Fatherhood, my own father would have failed miserably. After learning that my mother was pregnant, he decided to move out of state with no warning. I am still not sure if it was love, guilt, or failure in the music biz that brought him back just days after my birth. Although he did find his way back, he was still quite absent in my childhood. My school functions were rarely attended unless my mom put her foot down. He never came to my extra curricular activities and made no effort to get to know my friends when they would come over. He had no idea who I was other than a receiver of his genes…and we lived under the same roof.

I blame him for a lot things in life, but I also have to thank him. He has shown me what I don’t want in a father to my children. He has made me appreciate every daddy that I see pushing his kid in a stroller, or playing bubbles with his son, or having a tea party with a tiara on. Through life I have learned that my dad was not the norm. The tiara wearing, bubble blowing, stroller pushing daddies are the norm in this world and I was taught to think of them as “fruit cakes”.

I am now married to one of these “fruit cakes” and you know what, he looks pretty damn sexy with a tiara on, hunting for ants in the grass, and singing Old MacDonald. He encourages their growth and education. He wants to know exactly who they are outside playing with and how old they are. He wants to see the completed homework and attend Back to School night. He leaves work and comes straight to the softball field to cheer for our oldest and stays late to work on batting skills. My husband loves our children and spends every moment that he can with them.

For instance, just a few weeks ago he had to leave earlier than usual for work and the girls had not woken up yet when he left. He was a little upset, but kissed the sleeping beauties goodbye and left for work. Then he got stuck at work and could not make it home until after they were both sound asleep in bed for the night. He was so upset that he called his boss and said that he would be coming in late the next morning. He woke up and the usual time and spent some time with the girls before leaving for work. How sweet is that?

I want to raise my glass to all you fruit cake daddies out there. Wear your Tiara or Coach Hat (or both) and wear them proudly.

My name is Mommy the Maid and I have enjoyed my stay here at Desperately Seeking Sanity as a part of the Blog Exchange. I am a stay at home momma to two beautiful girls. Miss Turtle is 8 1/2 (we all know how important that half is) and Little Bear just turned 2. I am married to a wonderful man (that I just really gushed about) and we live in Colorful Colorado.

Heather is hanging out over at my blog today with a fabulous post of her own for the Father’s Day edition of the Blog Exchange, so be sure to check it out.

Until next time…

Heather

PS. I used the word penis on her blog… it was funny…. Go check it out!