Here's Why We Love These Fathers...
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Chris is a terrific father — he makes our girls feel safe, sets good boundaries, all that good stuff — but what I notice most (and what I hope our girls remember about him above all, when they're grown) is that he laughs with them, heartily and often. He clearly takes delight in them, and they know it.
A specific thing I love about his fathering style: He knows the importance of random acts of fun-ness. Some evenings, apropos of nothing, he will announce it's time to get ice cream. The girls may be in their pajamas, the dishes are stacked in the sink, but out the door we go (to Herrell's, of course!) for kiddie cones. I rarely think to do this; I'm caught up in the next chore before it's even started. I love that he thinks of it, because those evenings are sweet indeed.
Sometimes when I've been with the kids all day, Jeff comes home and I retreat into my office while he takes over. Lately I've been quietly listening in to his bedtime routines with the kids. From Rebecca's room I hear Jeff's sweet, deep baritone singing one of her bedtime books as a made up lullaby. And from Aaron's room I hear snippets of another installment of a magical made-up story he shares with Aaron often when he puts him to bed. It's so creative and so Jeff.
On his late father's birthday, Nat brought home a special dessert to mark the date. Even though our two sons had never met their Granddad, it was beautiful to see them singing "Happy Birthday" and making a connection to his memory.
I always remember the night I watched my husband, Fred, let our then 7-year-old give him a hairdo with sparkly barrettes, which he left in for hours. I thought, look at what this man is willing to do to make his little girl happy.
I'm always impressed and perhaps even a tad weak-kneed when I hear Allan answer Alcy's more adult questions (What does "war-torn" mean? Why can't the cat have any more kittens? Why does it have to be the yellow screwdriver?). He never hedges. He always answers honestly and completely, until she understands. Or walks away.
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1. Ellie, daughter of Fred (#18, next page)
2. Lila, daughter of Chris (#3)
3. Chris
4. Stella, daughter of Chris (#3)
5. Jeff
6. Rebecca, daughter of Jeff (#5)
7. Nat
8. Charley, son of Nat (#7)
9. Allan
10. Alcy, daughter of Allan (#9)
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