I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have a partner who is not only a fabulous father but also someone who may very well outlive me. You might wonder why I think this—let me explain.
1. He’s Not a Pack Rat
On any given day, my children hand me all sorts of items to “hold”: sticky half-eaten lollipops, colorful toys from the germ-infested wonderland known as Chuck E. Cheese, or my son’s latest fascination: rubber bands scavenged from the sidewalk. This constant barrage of “treasures” contributes to my never-ending battle with colds. In fact, my doctor once told me I was the only patient over the age of five to be diagnosed with double pink eye in 2013.
2. Selective Hearing Skills
While he may not actually be deaf, my husband has perfected the art of ignoring the kids’ calls for him. When one of our little ones yells, “Mom! Dad! Can I have a glass of water?” it’s invariably me who responds. Over time, the kids have learned to just call for Mom, sparing him from the relentless “DAD” echoing through the house. I, on the other hand, can envision myself years from now, a frazzled old lady mumbling “MomMomMomMommyMommyMammaMamaMomMom” to myself at the bus stop.
3. Deep Sleep Champion
This might be linked to his selective hearing. While I’m wide awake at the slightest cough or rustle from our children—even if they’re on another floor—he sleeps soundly, confident that I’ll handle everything. I still remember the night I had to wake him up to inform him I was taking our son to the ER due to severe jaw pain. Honestly, it should be “sleeping like a dad,” not “sleeping like a baby.”
4. Emergency Contact Overload
As the primary emergency contact for school, I receive all the calls—ranging from “Are your children bus or pickup today?” to the dreaded “This is the school nurse…” Those calls send my heart racing and make me wish for a tranquilizer.
5. Strategic Delegation of Responsibilities
When it came to divvying up parenting duties, it seems my husband outsmarted me. Somehow, I ended up with the unenviable tasks of applying sunscreen, clipping nails, and supervising thank-you notes. The tears these tasks have caused could fill a reservoir! The kids aren’t fans either.
6. Trusting Their Independence
He understands that our kids have opposable thumbs and can reach most kitchen counters. If they’re hungry, they can make a sandwich; if they need help finding batteries for the remote, they can wait a few minutes. This laid-back approach is something I envy; I tend to micromanage their lives. If I could adopt his mindset, perhaps I’d be able to keep my sanity long enough to avoid becoming that eccentric old lady at the bus stop.
In conclusion, I’m grateful for my partner’s strengths, which not only benefit our family but also help him lead a stress-free life that may very well allow him to outlive me. For those interested in exploring family-building options, I recommend checking out this excellent resource. You might also find this blog post helpful for related content.
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