I was traveling with two ladies this morning on my way to work, and while we were talking we somehow ended up on the topic of fathers.  The conversation quickly turned into a venting session between the two of them about how “if anything is ever going to get done for my child, I have to do it myself,” and “If my husband ever does do anything to help care for the kids, it’s only because I’ve had to nag him to do it.”  The conclusion they both agreed on was that men, in general, were completely useless when it came to the role of raising children. 

“You just wait,” one of the ladies said to me. “You’ll understand when you have kids.  Your husband will be the same way.”  “No, he won’t!” I quickly (and rather abruptly) chimed in.  “Let me tell you about my husband.”  I then proceeded with a five minute monologue about all of the things my husband did around the house and everything he took care of and how perfect he is.  (You’re welcome, sweetheart.)  ;) 

I don’t know if their complaints were justified or not.  But I do know that this is the typical picture most women paint of their husbands.  While I think I let my husband know how much I appreciate all he does, in reality I probably don’t say much more than, “Thank you for not being like most men.” Truly, he deserves so much more.  So, in honor of my husband and all the other wonderful men like him out there who take their roles of husbands and fathers seriously, I thought I’d write a little tribute.  (Ladies, feel free to join in.)

Here’s to the men:

• who give their children baths during Monday Night Football.
• who put their dishes in the dishwasher and take out the trash.
• who know how to administer antibiotics.
• who make the bed.
• who clean up the spaghetti sauce that their wife splattered all over the oven range.
• who sing bedtime lullabies over the cell phone from a far-off hotel room, even when there’s a half-second delay.
• who remember to take the sunscreen to the pool.
• who help straighten up the house when the in-laws are coming over b/c they know their wife would just die if they saw the house in disarray.
• who dress their children (in matching clothes).
• who know how to make a ponytail and tie a ribbon at the top.
• who’ve ever had to take a little girl into the men’s restroom.
• who water the plants when they notice them starting to wilt.
• who’ve killed dragons in the backyard with laserguns.
• who can differentiate between the hungry cry and the hurting cry.
• who do laundry.
• who work hard at jobs they really don’t like in order to provide for their families.
• who have an opinion on Gary Ezzo, James Dobson and Cynthia Tobias, and who can articulate those opinions.
• who cook (even if it’s just macaroni and cheese with a side of green beans).
• who make midnight runs for Children’s Tylenol.
• who offer to take half the grocery list.
• who help their children with their math homework…without making them cry.
• who fill their wife’s gas tank when they see it’s getting low.
• who know what lice look like and what the incubation period for Rotovirus is.
• who pay the bills on time and keep up with the household budget.
• who know their children’s shoe sizes.
• who know what their children’s (or their spouse’s) favorite kind of donut is.
• who know who Jasmine and Belle are.
• who get the oil changed on time.
• who know the names of every Thomas the Tank Engine character.
• who rock their children back to sleep after a thunderstorm.
• who hold their wife’s hair while she’s hovered over the toilet.
• who teach their children to pray.

This list could go on forever, but I’ll pause here and let others have a chance to add their own contributions.  Thank you, jlove, for being such a wonderful husband.  And my boss is right - you will make a wonderful father someday…IE5.