Dads Do It Different

(Disclaimer:  This blog post idea was taken from a children's book I saw at Barnes and Noble entitled "Dads Do It Different."  However, all the examples in this post are taken directly from Staley and Adelie's dad and grandpas.)

Moms are good.  We are fun.  We play, make believe, go on outings, read books, and do art projects.  We provide meals, healthy snacks, and a predictable routine.  We hug, cuddle, kiss, and love.  But we are not dads.  Dads do it different.

Dads are more fun.  They wrestle, hang you upside down, give horse rides, put you in 'the chomper', give 'fat-fat' rides, and let you ride on the lazy susan.  Dads let you take out all the toys without worrying about cleaning them up.  They make up games like 'blanket on, blanket off' and 'mad dog.'  They fly you like an airplane, let you water ski on their legs, and hang you from trees like a monkey. They read books with all the fun voices.  Dads are just fun.

Staley and Liam enjoying a Daddy horsey ride.

Staley 'water-skiing' with Papa

Beach fun with Grandpa

 

Moms provide good meals and snacks, but dads do it different.  They let you pick out your own snacks at the store, stocking the pantry with Fruit Loops, fruit snacks, Go-Gurt, and Apple Jacks.  They let you eat ice cream at breakfast and 5 Fig Newtons at snack time.  They take you for pizza and always let you have dessert.

Moms make sure your clothes are clean and matching.  Dads let you pick out your own outfit, even if it doesn't come close to matching, and they proudly let you wear it out in public. 

Moms have a schedule.  They make you ride in the cart at the store, stop fun activities for nap time, and structure time to get things done and get places (mostly) on time.  Dads are less worried about the schedule.  They let you push your own cart at the store, even if it takes twice as long.  If you are having fun swimming, nap time can pushed back an hour or two (or skipped completely.)  Dads will read extra books, play extra games, and won't say 'no' to extending a fun activity. With dads, nap time and bed time are negotiable.

Dads make meal times more fun.  They make their food talk, pretend to throw you grapes to catch in your mouth, pretend to talk with their mouths full, and aren't as worried about vegetables before fruit.  They turn your spoon into an airplane, motorcycle, train, and car.  They introduce fun games that make eating not-so-fun food more enjoyable.

Moms give hugs, kisses, and cuddles.  Dads do too.  Dads love just as much as moms do...they just do it differently.

Staley and Adelie couldn't be any luckier to have a dad, two grandfathers, and one great-grandfather who love them so much.  Thanks, dads, for doing it different.  Our lives are richer for it!

Happy Father's Day, Zach!

Happy Father's Day, Grandpa!

Happy Father's Day, Papa!

Happy Father's Day, Pop!