It doesn't matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was." - Anne Sexton
I think my boys are going to remember their Daddy in many loving ways and for many reasons! This list really didn't take me that long to write last night. Some kids love superheroes but mine are not interested in that stuff at all; I think that is because they live with a real one. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Top 57 Reasons Daddy is Better in no particular order:
1. Bedtime time is very flexible. If they are talking, he is listening.
2. He read the Bible stories at night and is a walking Bible Trivia game.
3. He knows a lot about snakes.
4. He catches snakes and lets the boys touch them.
5. He can get as dirty as they’ve dreamed of getting.
6. He is a lego genius.
7. He can whittle and teach others.
8. He can fix anything even cheap plastic toys from China.
9. He can put together something that works from nothing.
10. He is a super, super, dee-dooper bull.
11. He can walk away after meals and play with them while I am cleaning them up.
12. He is funny.
13. He can carry them wherever they need to go for as long as they need to be carried or pulled up hills hiking/biking.
14. He can swim and play in cold water that is ridiculously freezing.
15. He also lets them jump off his head in the lake.
16. He can wrestle goats like nobody’s business (to Jeb this is really admirable).
17. He knows how to care for most any animal problem…thanks google.
18. He can fix automobiles.
19. He can fix/run tractors.
20. He can run a skid-steer and lets the boys ride.
21. He is more patient since he sees them 4-5 hours a day vs. my full-day-ha!
22. He lets them plant things with him.
23. He lets them help him in the shop.
24. He lets them work with him.
25. He can teach them how to do most anything around the farm like trim horses hooves, goat hooves, and fencing (yes, this matters to my kids).
26. He knows a lot about fishing: salt, fresh, river …you name it.
27. He brings home dead deer and fish for them to see and butchers them himself—what a man!
28. He takes them fishing.
29. He takes them hunting. He shot a huge deer on Jeb’s 4th Bday after him making the request the night before?? How can I top that?
30. He takes them camping.
31. He can fix anything or make anything work while camping—amazing!’
32. He shows them loads of affection.
33. He always tells them he misses them when he is gone.
34. He builds rabbit gums.
35. He takes them to play in the creek and races boats.
36. He knows lots of wrestling moves and uses them.
37. He chases very vigorously.
38. He knows a lot about guns.
39. He builds huge, incredible fires…and lets them ball up the paper and gather the wood with him. Others can testify to this!
40. He can find lots of worms.
41. He has an ipad and laptop with fun games.
42. He is TOUGH.
43. He has a knife—this is very cool to Caleb.
44. He lets Caleb use his “man-size” axe. That in itself is enough to put me under.
45. He takes them to see the cows and give them feed/hay/salt.
46. His clothes have deer, moose, and other animals on them.
47. He built a tree house for them with their design request.
48. He built a zipline.
49. He built a tire swing.
50. He can rope.
51. He is much stronger than we all are.
52. He has incredibly hairy arms that they have liked since they were newborns.
53. He shot a pesky possum and Caleb is still talking about that stunt.
54. He rides 4-wheelers with them (well, so do I, but he does everything better).
55. He was in the army and has stories to tell about that.
56. He watches more interesting TV like Swamp People and River Monsters!
57. Tons more chocolaty chocolate milk. They tell me they want Daddy to make it when they see me doing it!
A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty. ~Author Unknown
The words that a father speaks to his children in the privacy of home are not heard by the world, but, as in whispering-galleries, they are clearly heard at the end and by posterity. ~Jean Paul Richter
A few small reasons Mom is better…since this is MY blog--ha!
1. They eat real food thanks to me.
2. Books are read with more inflection and excitement..heck, books are read.
3. They know their letters and how to read, etc.
4. She is loud and likes loud, fun music!
5. I also play in the dirt, wrestle, plant things, tag along at the creek, camping, fishing, etc..but I am not nearly as cool for some reason?? Ha!
No wonder Daddy is better!
