My dad has got to be a hard act for any father to follow.  He sets the bar of fatherhood very high, and he makes it look quite effortless.  When I was a kid, he was never too busy to look under the bed for the presumed monsters.  When I was a single young lady living next door to him and mom, he would walk me home at night and then go through every room in the house (it was a trailor) to make sure there were no intruders lurking.  Even now, my dad would drop everything and be up here on the Hill [probably armed to the teeth] if I heard a noise on an evening the King was absent.   

In short, you can always count on my dad for all that over-the-top wonderful father stuff, but sometimes, he goes one step farther and it just takes my breath away. 

Today, Baby was sick and extremely whiney and apt to cry at the drop of a hat (or a pacifier).  So, after 2 nights in a row sans sleep, 2 hours at the doctors office, and feeling a little sorry for myself, I called Daddy to report the drama.  He immediately wanted to talk to the baby on the phone.  As soon as the phone was on Baby's ear, he broke into a broad smile and giggled.  And then my dad said the sweetest thing to me and I just haven't been able to get it out of my mind ever since.  He said, "Why don't you bring him here so we can help you -- we could take turns carrying him around."

All of you moms out there who have carried feverish, limp, whiney, clingy sick babies around all night and then all day will know just how much that offer meant to me.  The hours that I had needed to go to the bathroom but really couldn't  because the baby didn't want me to put him down just melted away.  Suddenly, I felt like breaking into a broad smile and giggling. 

I didn't take Daddy up on his offer, because the big boys needed to finish their lessons for the day and I'd already been absent for quite a while because of the doctor.  But I really didn't need to.  Like so many things in my lifetime, just knowing that Daddy was there and willing to help, gave me what I needed to make it through my day. 

Daddy with Baby
6/1/06

• Post A Comment! • Send to a Friend!

Posted by Blogless Leigh

that IS so sweet! I hope I am that kind of Grandma!!

• Permanent Link

Posted by eclecticityTia

He's just a phone call away but I sometimes wonder what it will be like when he's not. I know moving up here has been good for us; my husband needed to get out of my dad's shadow. But I do really, really miss knowing he's just down the street for a hug and a chat.

• Permanent Link

Posted by arajbrown

And isn't it an amazing truth that sometimes it's the offer of assistance that allows us to make it through. Knowing we aren't in the race alone and if we falter there will be someone at the ready!

Before I knew your dad as 'grandpa' or 'dad' I thought he was the best school principal I'd ever seen. Now I can see that it was how he was utilizing all these Granddaddy skills until the time was right!

• Permanent Link