It takes a team to raise a child
The best father I know, Reliable Bob at the annual Country Fair selling trash and treasures.
Jane, the lead female character in “Lie Down with Lions,” a 1986 Ken Follet book, is torn between two men. In a dramatic chase scene through the Afghan mountains with one of the men and her baby, Jane is contemplates who to choose: the good man or the evil spy. She has only two diapers for the baby for the arduous journey.
At the end of the day of he man she camped out with in the mountains washed out the diaper at the end of the day. This simple gesture, when she was mentally and physically exhausted, meant a lot to her.That scene illustrates the demands of parenthood, how one person can’t fulfill a child’s every need, and the value of partnership. I loved that scene because his willingness to wash out the diaper said something about his character and commitment.
It’s always easier to face a challenge together. I remember one night when Bob and I had one of our famous “in-house dates.” I fed the four kids early with one of their favorites — chicken nuggets, and put them in front of a movie while we shared a special dinner with candlelight and wine. Then we put the kids to bed and watched an adult movie. Voila, dinner and movie, without going out.
When we went upstairs at 11 pm to check on the kids, both boys had vomited in their beds. The only thing worse than one boy vomiting in their bed is two boys vomiting in their beds. It was disgusting. We cleaned up two beds and bathed two boys when all we wanted to do was to fall into bed. Teamwork made it tolerable, and a shared memory that strengthened our long-term bond.
Happy Fathers Day to all you guys out there. Plant the seeds of your love to grow as the tree commitment, to stay rooted when the hurricanes and tornadoes threaten to uproot a marriage.
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June 15, 2012 at 9:46 am
Way to go Bob! And Susan! And thanks to all the fathers I have known. My own father, my fantastic husband and my father-in-law all embody the word commitment.
June 15, 2012 at 12:26 pm
Commitment doesn’t come easy or cheap. The inmates I meet in prison when volunteering have a hard time with any kind of commitment — to themselves or others.
June 18, 2012 at 12:37 am
Love the team work. Moments like these are priceless.