Oh my goodness, he's really listening!

Rules are rules, whether at home or at school. I say this to my kid time and time again hoping it sinks in and he takes heed. As parents we offer guidance and boundaries; some of it sticks and some doesn't. Best case scenario our voices will echo in their heads and they will think about what we've taught them before they make decisions, no matter how big or small. I'm fortunate to have a pretty well behaved boy, but just how much he respects my wishes was confirmed recently.

Nigel takes his birthdays very seriously. Like most kids he anticipates getting lots of gifts from friends and family. Presents are a big deal, especially when people other than Mommy or Daddy get him something special. Nigel's preschool teachers usually get him a little trinket for his birthday. Imagine my surprise when upon my arrival at school his instructor pulled me aside to say Nigel had graciously given his present back to her after opening it. Apparently as soon as he looked inside of the gift bag and saw a Star Wars Nerf Blaster he returned it. My husband and I don't allow him to play with guns of any kind. How mature of my Nigel to understand our rule and abide by it even when his parents weren't around. I asked him if he understood why we don't want him to play with guns. He told me it's because guns hurt people and they are not for games. Eureka! Integrity is defined by doing the right thing when no one is looking. My big guy is growing up and showing me he can make responsible choices. My pride is hard to mask :-D

Daddy Dear

“They say that from the instant he lays eyes on her, a father adores his daughter. Whoever she grows up to be, she is always to him that little girl in pigtails. She makes him feel like Christmas. In exchange, he makes a secret promise not to see the awkwardness of her teenage years, the mistakes she makes or the secrets she keeps.”
— Everwood

The bond between fathers and daughters is said to be one of the sweetest loves with a lifelong ripple effect. Moms raise the girls and Daddies spoil them. A father's love for his little girl should be wrapped up in adventure and adoration, fishing and fingernail painting. Dads have a way of making us feel strong and beautiful through our tears and scrapped knees. The signs of an active, or absent, father leaves footprints on a girl's heart that she may not be aware of.

I have always been close with my Mom as her only child, but my father and I have a mutual understanding and appreciation that is unique. We're like bohemian nerds that share the same wavelength. As I've gotten older his shoulder and his ear still bend for me whenever I need him. And though he might be an unlikely candidate, he is who I go to for most advice about my marriage. Now that I have a daughter I pray that she and I will have more fun than fights, and that I will be her confidante. However, I'm excited about the thought of her and my husband's budding relationship. He was busy selecting poems for her before she was born, and his special love for her is easy to see.

I found a great article recently written by Michael Mitchell, 50 Rules for Dads of Daughters, that inspired this post. Check it out :-) http://www.fromdatestodiapers.com/50-rules-for-dads-of-daughters