My Wife, Mother, Mother-in-Law, and daughters, April and Rachel from 2007. This Blog is called “Helping Fathers to be Dads”. The reason I do this is my belief, backed by facts, that a present, loving father is critical to healthy, confident children. However, in no way do I place fathers over mothers. When there is only one parent in a family with children, it is overwhelmingly the mother that is there for her children. There is no doubt that mothers were the most influential people in my life.
My mother raised me without the help of my father. She sacrificed for me, loved me, held me, encouraged me, fought for me, and gave me all she had when she had little to give, then gave more to my five siblings. Her loving and kind nature was always a comfort to me. My Mom is truly a gift to her 6 children, 23+ grandchildren, 21+ great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild! She is truly treasured by all!
My wife accepted me into her life when I had nothing, with little to offer for the future. She taught me simple etiquette, not to order Italian salad in a Chinese restaurant, and how not to dress. She stood by me when I was awkward and clumsy (still am), and helped me to grow as a person. I once held her by her ankle while she leaned out of the car to keep my muffler from dragging on the street (note: we were in her neighborhood). With all this, my wife, Kathy, still married me! She put her teaching career on hold to be the mother our three kids, giving them the benefit of every experience and lesson she could think of, while I was often away at one of my two jobs and not there to help. All three of our children grew to be wonderful, caring people. I could go on and on about what Kathy means to me, my career, and my life!
My mother-in-law was always wonderful to me. She treated me like her own son - even for the six years before I married her daughter. When I was 19, I borrowed her car and bumped into the back of a police car. She was calm and understanding. When I was very sick, she insisted I stay at her house and took care of me. When my car broke down and a gas station mechanic wouldn’t let me borrow a tool, she came to pick her daughter and me up and gave that mechanic a tongue lashing. Mind you, this was all when I was just dating her daughter. Her kindness, caring, and love continued on for the many years I was her son-in-law. We lost her 5 years ago and miss her very much.
Now my two daughters are mothers and my chest swells with pride when I see them with their children. They learned from their Mom. Both married men who could not possibly be better fathers. I know that my grandchildren are in great hands. Yes, I have been blessed my whole life surrounded by dedicated mothers who were, and are, also nurturing women and beautiful people. They made me who I am today. I cannot thank them enough!
HAPPY MOTHER’s DAY to all the beautiful ladies who take care us!
My mother raised me without the help of my father. She sacrificed for me, loved me, held me, encouraged me, fought for me, and gave me all she had when she had little to give, then gave more to my five siblings. Her loving and kind nature was always a comfort to me. My Mom is truly a gift to her 6 children, 23+ grandchildren, 21+ great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild! She is truly treasured by all!
My wife accepted me into her life when I had nothing, with little to offer for the future. She taught me simple etiquette, not to order Italian salad in a Chinese restaurant, and how not to dress. She stood by me when I was awkward and clumsy (still am), and helped me to grow as a person. I once held her by her ankle while she leaned out of the car to keep my muffler from dragging on the street (note: we were in her neighborhood). With all this, my wife, Kathy, still married me! She put her teaching career on hold to be the mother our three kids, giving them the benefit of every experience and lesson she could think of, while I was often away at one of my two jobs and not there to help. All three of our children grew to be wonderful, caring people. I could go on and on about what Kathy means to me, my career, and my life!
My mother-in-law was always wonderful to me. She treated me like her own son - even for the six years before I married her daughter. When I was 19, I borrowed her car and bumped into the back of a police car. She was calm and understanding. When I was very sick, she insisted I stay at her house and took care of me. When my car broke down and a gas station mechanic wouldn’t let me borrow a tool, she came to pick her daughter and me up and gave that mechanic a tongue lashing. Mind you, this was all when I was just dating her daughter. Her kindness, caring, and love continued on for the many years I was her son-in-law. We lost her 5 years ago and miss her very much.
Now my two daughters are mothers and my chest swells with pride when I see them with their children. They learned from their Mom. Both married men who could not possibly be better fathers. I know that my grandchildren are in great hands. Yes, I have been blessed my whole life surrounded by dedicated mothers who were, and are, also nurturing women and beautiful people. They made me who I am today. I cannot thank them enough!
HAPPY MOTHER’s DAY to all the beautiful ladies who take care us!
