Fatherhood — The Joy of Mira

Much attention is paid to the bond between a mother and a child, as it should be. However, the world needs to hear more about fathers like you. I always knew you would be an incredible dad, and yet, I underestimated what exactly that would mean.

I remember in the very early stages of our relationship, seeing you with your 3 nieces for the first time, thinking to myself that whoever had the privilege of making this man a father was going to be a very lucky woman.

I am so thankful that woman was me.

In our early days of parenting, I thought all the most delicate baby care tasks would be mine; but it was you who trimmed each tiny fingernail and folded each onesie with precision and dedication. I thought the dirty diapers and late night feedings would be mine, but it was you who stepped up and showed me this wasn’t a one person job. I thought the scraped knees and tears were mine to clean up; but you showed me you were just as much their parent as I was, and for that, I want to say thank you.

It was naïve of me to think that all dads are like you. I brushed off the compliments (and there were many) of just how wonderful you are with our girls. I’ve seen some pretty disconnected fathers over the years, and I know that I have taken your dedication and involvement in their lives for granted.

Thank you for every night you pulled the covers up over me and told me to sleep while you rocked a colicky baby for hours and hours. Thank you for washing endless pump and bottle parts until your hands cracked. Thank you for not being afraid of whatever bodily fluids ended up on our couch or our carpet or ourselves. Thank you for the drop-offs and the pick-ups, the doctor’s visits and the parent conferences, when my schedule did not allow it. Thank you for braiding Ellie’s hair “just like Elsa” and for teaching her that girls can do anything that boys can do, and more. Thank you for your resourcefulness with Mira, making sure we have the proper adaptions in our home to make her safe and comfortable.

Thank you for saving her life.

Our girls adore you. Ellie is an extension of you in so many ways. Her love of Phish and rollercoasters, her mild, yet obvious OCD, her dance moves, her facial expressions...all you. She calls you her best friend and asks to sleep with your t-shirts when you aren’t home. Mira lights up when you enter the room. She reaches for your face and snuggles into your chest. She has your smile, your appetite and your laid-back personality. You are her protector and she has known that from the very beginning when you never left her side in the NICU.

Thank you for loving our girls to the depths of your soul. Your beautiful bond with them is obvious to all and I am so proud to be on this journey with you.

I find it poetic that my birthday and Father’s Day collided this year, of all years. There is no greater gift I could ask for than you.