Tuesday, January 06, 2009

I mentioned in conversation (I think with my parents) a little while ago that I was going to search for a stay-at-home-dads support group for Beau. He sometimes struggles with the SAHD thing, understandably. My encouragement about his Dadhood is not sufficient to sooth him at times. And the product of his hard work, Jesse, sometimes hinders any encouragement (as toddlers will do when they act like toddlers).

ME: I think Beau needs to connect with other Dads in his situation, to share their feelings and to encourage one another.

I think someone said something here, but then the lightbulb lit in my own head.

ME: What am I saying? Men don’t share feelings. They’d talk about sports and cars and whatever else men talk about.

At that Beau looked at me and said, “And I don’t talk about those things either, so I guess the support group idea is out.” Or words to that effect.

True enough - Beau would much rather talk about political philosophy or theology or the latest non-fiction book he read or something more deeply intellectual.

Why he married me is mystery at times since I’m all about pop culture and TV and would rather die a fiery death than read non-fiction. (Not really, but you know what I mean.)

Anyway, I just want to say to the interweb masses that Beau is a fantastic husband and father. He may not be doing what he is wired to do (be the full-time homemaker), but he’s doing it pretty well regardless. I’m well taken care of as his wife and know that I am deeply loved and Jesse is a happy, well-adjusted, sweetly natured, mostly obedient little boy (he is almost 2, after all) who loves to learn about everything around him. His Daddy so patiently takes every opportunity to teach - one example being from lunch today when Jesse held out his hands and said, “Mess!” I handed him a napkin to play with and left it at that. Beau then came over and patiently showed Jesse how to actually use the napkin to wipe his little hands clean. And do you know that Jesse would grab that napkin each time he felt he needed to wipe off the “mess” and did an increasingly great job at it?

Beau, you are a great father. Never doubt that. As I’ve told you countless times, when Mother’s Day comes and all of the Mom’s get accolades for their hard work at caring for and raising the children, you have to understand that you are in that group of loving parents. I love you and couldn’t ask for a better father for my precious children. God has blessed our little family with such a Godly, loving, and faithful Dad.