I know some of you may not agree with the title of this post but humor me anyway. I’m writing this using my phone, while nursing and holding my seven-week-old daughter close to me, skin to skin. She’s been sick since birth, you see, and lost a significant amount of weight and is recovering from an infection. (The awesome ladies from my World Moms Blog family know in detail what’s been happening in my life lately and you folks who may be curious can get more details over at www.trulyrichmom.com.)
Anyway, back to the post title. While many mothers may not be raising their children with their husbands or partners or their kids’ birth fathers (because of their circumstances and/or choices), for many of us, this is still the set-up we have: mom AND dad work together to bring up the kids and make sure they become productive citizens.
This is certainly true in my case, and because it is Father’s Day this weekend, I want to take this opportunity to thank all the “World Dads” out there who are committed to helping their wives or partners raise their children, including my own husband.
The past seven weeks with our now-recovering baby have been extra challenging and I don’t think I could have survived them without her father. Anthony has been a pillar of strength for me and although I know that deep down he has been worried over our little one too, he has never shown it, and has always reminded me that “all is well.”
When we still didn’t have anyone to help us around the house, he’d be the one to wash the baby’s diapers and do our laundry and prepare breakfast before he’d leave for work. (Thank God my mom came over and stayed with us to help us out.)
He’s always been my number one cheerleader when it comes to breastfeeding our kids (and homeschooling them too). Now that I’m a nursing mom again, he makes sure I eat and drink what I’m supposed to, and even feeds me sometimes when I have to nurse the baby during mealtime. He even bought me breastfeeding-friendly clothes without my asking him to, because he said he doesn’t want me to be a “frumpy” mom!
I could go on and on about how my husband is uber supportive and an amazing father to boot, but I won’t. Suffice to say that I really believe dads have a great role to play when it comes to “improving” the lives of moms and their kiddos.
So, to all the World Dads out there who are trying to make the lives of us World Moms (and our children) happier and easier – THANK YOU! You guys matter to us, really! Thank you for doing your best to be good husbands/partners and fathers! And to my husband, if you’re reading this, please know that I really, really, really thank God for you. You are God’s greatest gift to me (even if on many days, I don’t make you feel as if you are)!
Happy Father’s Day!
This is an original post by Tina Santiago-Rodriguez for World Moms Blog. Follow Tina on her blog, Truly Rich Mom.
Photo credit goes to the author.
Ay, Tina, waterworks! Reading this post made me cry coz I know you’ve been going through so much, and it warms my heart to read that you have such a great partner in Anthony. You two are so blessed to have each other, and your kids are equally blessed to have you both as parents.
You know I’m always rooting for you! *Hugs*
Patty, you just made me cry! 🙂 I so love you and everyone in my WMB family! Thanks SO much for all your support and prayers and love! *Hugs*
Tina,
I’m thinking of your little baby, and hoping she is getting stronger! With Father’s Day coming up, I’m glad we’re giving a shout out to all the helpful dads out there. I rely on my husband a lot, and he got me through so many difficult parenting times, especially when our daughters were newborns.
Yesterday we gave a big shout out to all the Mamas in the Congo and today to all the Dads from the Philippines! I will also give a shout out to all the parents going it alone, too!
Thank you for writing this on your phone. You are too much!! Take a break, Mama!
Jen 🙂
Hi Jen,
Your support is such a blessing to me and my family! 🙂 Just like you, I rely on my husband a lot especially when it comes to the kids, which is why I keep nagging… err.. telling him to take care of himself, especially when he’s not with me! 😀 And yes, the parents going it alone totally deserve a shout out!
Hugs,
Tina
Here here! Cheers to the World Dads. And many blessings to your beautiful family. I hope your sweet baby continues to make good progress and you get peace of mind.
Thank you, Tara! 🙂 Blessings, love and peace to you and yours!
I with you on this. So thankful for my hubby who is so hands on and involved in raising our little girl from playing with her to discipline her. I’m glad we are a team and he makes up for what I lack.
Thanks for dropping by, Susan! 🙂 Hubby is involved with the kids too, and I’m so grateful for that! I believe that parenting is teamwork too! And yes, more often than not, our husbands make up for what we lack!
Having said that, I think solo/single parents are so worthy of honoring, too! It’s not easy to raise kids, what more if you’re alone!
Blessings and peace,
Tina
Dearest Tina, thank you for this beautiful post!
I couldn’t agree with you more – I, too, have been blessed with an amazingly supportive husband. They say that “the proof is in the pudding”. To me “the pudding” is the relationship we both have with our “practically all grown up” children (our son is 20 years old and our daughter is 17). Considering that (in the past) I had to be hospitalised for Clinical Depression, I give huge credit to my husband for the fact that our kids have grown up into such awesome young people!!
All my love and best wishes to you all!!
Hi Simona! 🙂
Aren’t we SO blessed? 🙂
Thanks for your support!
God bless,
Tina
So true Tina – our partners help in so many ways! You have been going through so much with the baby and are lucky to have such a wonderful partner in Anthony. I hope your baby keeps gaining weight and growing. She has some wonderful role models in both of you! ***hugs***