This is a week late & (I’m sure) a few mentions short, but I feel like it’s still worth putting out there.
I want to take a moment to thank all the good dads out there for the big and little things.
There are, of course, the big things that get frequently noticed and praised. Bringing home the bacon, doing the yard work, taking on endless “honey-do” lists, filing the taxes, dealing with the medical insurance options, etcetera. Remembering the car maintenance tasks, locking the doors at night, and roughhousing with the kids are all very important. Thank you for all of that, of course, those are all great and wonderful and really, really appreciated.
But more importantly, I want to thank you for the little things. The tiny things that seemingly go unnoticed. Let me assure you, they are not. I can’t make an exhaustive list of them, because they will be deeply individual. My father-in-law remembers what toppings everyone likes on their homemade pizza, and will buff out his children’s headlights if he notices they are getting foggy. My husband will put a towel on the warmer for me before I hop in the shower, holds my hand while he’s driving, and will read whatever book I’m reading so we can discuss it at length. My brother-in-law is the absolute most patient dirt-bike instructor I have ever seen with his kiddos – and their skills definitely show it. A family friend of ours makes an effort to include my son in real conversations every time they see each other – they’ve talked about dinosaurs, Pokémon, and whatever topic my son is currently researching. Another family friend includes my children with his in their family teasing – he’ll call them silly names and they light up from it.
The little things make a big difference. Thank you, & Happy (Belated) Father’s Day.
Disclaimer/Reality Check: Yes, yes, moms do big & little things all the time, too. That doesn’t diminish the things dads do. As we say in our home: same goals, different roles. This column will be about motherhood, parenting, and homemaking for the most part. It will likely be a rampage about the park chaste trees being cut down soon, as that is currently building in my brain. Most importantly, I don’t ever want this column to make another mama think she’s not doing enough. If you’re reading this, I want you to know that you are, you’re doing great, keep it up. Sing it with me: no-one is doing it allllll!
