A father's love

Due to his work schedule and a few bottle-hating breastfeeders, my husband has the opposite of my maternally-induced claustrophobia and tactile defensiveness or what I call "Get the hell off of me right now!"

For all the times I find myself begging for any semblance of my personal space back, he likens himself to a veritable hug machine-slash-jungle gym that is always open for business.

And so, when the kids show him love and cling to him like little monkeys, he basks in it, so much so that I must endure hearing every intimate detail of these rare interactions, which as you might imagine is like hearing someone describe your own entire day as a WAHM/SAHM right back at you it's this New! Cool! thing you've never heard about.

It's like my mom telling me how great that thing called "text messaging" works.

Exciting stuff, really.

But alas, I humor him, because I know how meaningful those moments are for him (and me - though I admit a kid hanging on your leg while you're trying to pee tends to lose its charm pretty quickly) and because he's endured plenty of stories that start something like "So, I was on twitter the other day..."

And well, you all know how those stories can tend to go.

So the other day when he started in about how Margot walked up to him with arms outstretched and put her head on his shoulder, I stopped what I was doing to listen.

"She kept her head there for awhile," he added, "and then I flipped her on her back and held her like a baby, and she just snuggled into my arms."

And really, there's nothing sweeter (and hotter) than listening to a dad snuggle with his kid.

"She really does miss you when you're gone," I reminded him. I started to walk away, but then he continued.

"But then I looked up her nose and saw this monstrous booger up there and holy shit it was freaking huge. And, um, oh wait. Look! It's still here in the sink. You've got to see this thing. It's unbelievable. Come here!"

Yep. Dads. Showing love to kids and their noses, one gigantic booger at a time.

Comments

[Amanda]

It's such a relief to read I'm not the only loving mother who desperately would like to NOT BE TOUCHED for a while.

I admit that I get glowy and arrogantly proud when all my kids climb in my lap and cuddle with me at family parties (look-my kids adore me! suck it!) but when I've been home for days straight, or I've got a ton of work to do, I start to beg them to leave me alone. Bribe them. Run away and lock the bathroom door before they can follow me in and then I've got 3 kids and the dog hanging out listening to my business and commenting. yes, my 4 year old comments.

Thanks Kristen for sharing. You've helped me laugh through so much!!

[El Bilson]

Time with dad - cute :)

[Sara]

It seems like this happens with all loving fathers. My son is 16 months old and likes to hear farting noises. Go figure.

[Heather @notesfromlapland]

ah men, bless em.

[PrattVickie19]

A lot of specialists argue that home loans help a lot of people to live their own way, just because they can feel free to buy needed goods. Furthermore, a lot of banks give student loan for different classes of people.

[Kristy]

LOL! Very funny. Bet that got you all hot and bothered. :)

[Coma Girl]

Mr. clean and tidy saved a booger in the sink? Why do I picture him with rubber gloves and a box of tissues? And possibly the vacuum.

Oh wait, that's me.

[tara]

a papa's pride is so predictable sometimes, a big booger is still big AND a booger (!) and made by his offspring which makes it doubly amazing.

[Kim]

Does DH take pictures of monster poops in the toilet with his cell phone to then text to you while you're away on a business trip? I understand potty training is a big deal but can we get warning messages before we open these pics? It's funny what makes dads proud!

[Vicky]

It always makes me fall in love with my husband all over again when I see how much the girls love him and likewise. It is pretty, damn hot too.

I love the line, "stories that start with, "So I was on Twitter the other day..." So true.

[Julie @ The Mom Slant]

Ah, the daddy jungle gym. I usually stand by, wringing my hands and pleading, "Be careful with my babies!"