It's tough, but I have to admit that my boys are daddy's boys not mommy's boys. Don't get me wrong. They love their mommy, and they have a daddy who teaches them to adore and honor me. But there's just something different about when daddy's home. Being a pastor requires him to be away quite a bit (although he is good about protecting certain times just for us), so when he does finally walk through the door, the boys just seem to come alive. There is more laughter, and the volume level rises quite a bit as everyone is trying to talk to him at once (including me). Most men seem to need some down time after work before they jump into the family dynamic, but our daddy takes off his pastor hat when he leaves the office so that he has his daddy hat on when he walks through the door at home. He is always 100% daddy when he walks in. He says it's his second full-time job. (Sometimes I can't believe God gave me this man!)
My hubby started a tradition with my oldest son when he was little. On Saturday mornings, they would take off to the local bagel store for breakfast and a game of backgammon. Somehow, in the business of life, that tradition has fallen to the wayside. At dinner tonight, Josiah asked if Dad could take him for bagels tomorrow before school. We discussed trying to get in the routine again and including all the boys in a rotation, so that everyone gets some one-on-one time with dad. After Josiah claimed his rightful spot as the first one to get time with dad, Ellis, in his sweet and funny way, piped up and said, "I call Dad second," as if he was claiming his spot in the car or his turn on a video game. Ken and I just looked at each other and laughed. That statement said so much about how he needs his dad.
Boys need their fathers. Who else will teach them how to be good dads, how to treat women, how to build things and how to stand up when they go to the bathroom (and all those other important things of course). Boys need their dads!
a much younger Ken with Siah in North Carolina
Lake Michigan Shoreline
"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."
Ephesians 6:4
