10 DAYS OF SINGLE DADDING
My wife is a gifted teacher and a visionary leader who inspires greatness. And People around the world are starting to catch on.
I made a choice a while ago that I would not be the one to close the door on her dreams. If the door opens, I usually say yes. And if the door is stuck, I kick it down.
My perception at times is that others think I am a pushover. Like I have to let her walk out the door because she is such a powerful woman. I guess those people don’t know me very well.
Sigh.
If only people could understand the courage and bravery it takes to be a husband who empowers his wife to fulfill her dreams in a culture that just doesn’t get it… yet.
Of course I have dreams too. Big ones. But along this journey I have learned a secret. If you put others before yourself, God takes care of your desires. I think I read about that somewhere…
It isn’t all fun and games.
The last 4 days I have slept about 12 hours. With my wife away at a leadership conference I am single dadding it. We have a 20 month old who is cutting eye teeth(imagine trying to sleep with sea urchins in your gums). Then there’s the 11 year old who is troubled about eternity and obsessed with video games. Can anyone say meltdown? And if that doesn’t give you a headache there are the teenagers. They don’t want to be here. They are “bored”. They have places to go and people to see and the foot of snow outside has stolen everything!
So because it’s hard I decide it’s not worth it? Rubbish!
We have a couple of important sayings in our house. “We do hard things” and “We never give up”
We do hard things, because nothing of worth ever came easily. And we say “never give up”, because gritting your teeth, standing your ground and holding on is often the only way to victory.
So I made the choice to put my family’s dreams first.
I see the opposite all the time. Leaders who want to shine the brightest and husbands who push their family’s dreams aside to “succeed”.
Some may see that as strength. I see it as profoundly weak and wildly nearsighted.
Because of my decision to empower, I am convinced that 50 years from now my family will want to be around me. Kids, grandkids maybe great grandkids will actually want to gather at our house because they have grown up in an environment of empowerment. Oh and my wife will be there. Hooray! I will look into her eyes and see no regret.
What am I creating?
{An environment where girls and boys, men and women have equal value and equal opportunity}
– An environment where gifting and perseverance win promotion, not gender.
What environment are you creating?
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Dadding tip of the day
– Cut up your teething baby’s favorite fruit into bite size pieces and freeze them. Baby loves the cold on those gums. Pineapple is our new favorite (thanks Grandma!)
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