The Perfect Dad

I always knew he would make the perfect dad. Kids just gravitate to him; it’s something I’ve noticed for well over a decade. So years later, it’s not a big surprise to see my husband in his element, as a dad. As I watch him with our daughter, Peyton, I swell with pride. The father of my children is hands on and doesn’t take a backseat to parenting. He is my true knight in shining armor.
Ryan is not only active with Peyton, he’s dedicated. After our triplets were born in 2013, we were faced with some difficult times. As we were grieving the loss of our first born, Abigail, we were trying to stay strong for Peyton and her brother, Parker. Because I was on leave from work, we couldn’t afford for Ryan to take time off. He returned to work the day after Abby’s funeral. Every morning, Ryan would wake up early and arrive at the Nicu by 6am. He would visit with our children before heading off to work, then he would return to the Nicu with me for our evening visits. He was there for every single morning of Parker’s short life and he didn’t miss a day of Peyton’s nearly four month hospital stay. That’s pure love and dedication.
Ryan’s love for Peyton is enormous and it’s evident every day. From playing dress up with our daughter, to letting her use him as a rock climbing wall, my husband is the perfect father. It’s so often that mothers get all the glory, when in fact, dads deserve so much credit. I recently saw a t-shirt that said, “Dads don’t babysit. It’s called parenting.” It’s a movement by men to dispel the perception that dads don’t really take care of their children, instead, moms do all the heavy lifting. That couldn’t be further from the truth in our family. We are a team and Ryan does just as much as me, if not more, when it comes to caring for our child. From changing dirty diapers, to bath time (which is all Ryan…I hate giving baths!), to cutting the crust off of grilled cheese, there are no limits to Ryan’s parenting skills. And he’s not alone. I know so many dads out there who are just as hands-on as my husband.
As we head into the weekend where families will be paying tribute to “Dad”, let’s make sure to give our loved ones the credit they deserve. To my husband, my best friend and the father of my child: Thank you for being a role model and the perfect father figure to our daughter. You have taught me patience and have helped me be a better parent. You have given me strength when I felt like I was sinking and you’ve been the rock of our family as we experienced the loss of two of our children. Peyton is so lucky to call you “Dad” and it’s pure joy watching the bond between you two blossom more everyday.

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