Father's Day Tribute Continued: Daddies Are Different

This past weekend, Ryan and his two little boys were enjoying a Father's Day stroll along one of the neighborhood golf courses when Cavan's tricycle spun off the golf cart path and down a small hill, landing my toddler into the murky lagoon. I was still cleaning up from breakfast when the lot showed up at the front door. Ryan, shoeless because he had torn one in the fight to rescue Cavan, was wet from the knees down. Cavan, who was soaked but otherwise happy, was trying in his limited toddler vocabulary to tell me all about the accident at the pond. Camden, unscathed, was holding his Daddy's broken flip-flop and telling me his own version of the story. They were a mess, but they were safe and adorable.

I can't tell you that the same thing wouldn't have happened on my watch, because the truth is, it has (see my previous story "Meet the Swim Team" when both of my tots let themselves outside to go for a swim in 1ft.- deep mud puddles). Parenting is not for amateurs. I run a tighter ship than Ryan, and it's not because I love the boys any less or more-I just tend to worry about everything, whereas Ryan doesn't. For instance, Ryan might let the boys swim in diapers, or naked. He'll let them stay up later, play with tools, and he'll let them watch all the Cartoon Network they like. That's what dad's do right? Well, that's not all. They fix toys, they fix boo-boos, and they also share every minute of their children's joys and sorrows. Ryan always comes home to remind the boys they are first in his life, and no matter how long or strenuous his day, he still makes time to read to the boys for a solid hour every night before bedtime. We're blessed.