In Honor of Father's Day

In honor of Father's Day coming soon, I decided to share an essay that I have also entered into a magazine contest about "why my husband is amazing" (for a chance to win a trip for 2 to Aruba!). I don't normally enter contests, but since this one is based on sharing from my heart, I decided to have a go at it. I am sure lots of people write in though. I love what I wrote, to honor my sweet husband, an amazing man that didn't ask to be a father, yet does so each day in ways that continue to amaze me.


Get your tissues ready, readers.

Here's to you, Barrett.

I met my husband while in the process of a painful divorce after a 10 year marriage. We bonded over long phone calls discussing books, movies, spirituality, life, and our shared love of camping and quiet time. Though Barrett and I connected instantly, it was a few months before I would bring him around my sons, then 2 and 5. Divorce is tough enough on kids, and I didn’t want them to see me with just anyone. For this reason, most of our dates at first were when the kids were in bed. When we began to get serious, I figured I needed to bring him around my children, because if something didn’t jive, I would have to call it quits. I invited Barrett for a trip to the zoo. We hadn’t seen eye-to-eye the night before on the phone when I insisted that the outing had to be planned around my younger son’s nap-time. Barrett had never been married, and had no children, and I was worried that these little details (common to a parent in the trenches so to speak) would be lost on him or even be a point of contention. Barrett arrived the next morning bright and early though, but I still had it in my head that this poor, sweet man, unbeknownst to him, was on trial. As happens often with two-year olds, mine decided to have a complete meltdown in the food court at the zoo. I was mortified. As any woman who has been through divorce knows, if you have children- when you begin dating again, you are no longer truly single, but a package deal. Barrett didn’t bat an eyelash at my son’s (normal) toddler behavior. He stayed calm and even jovial, lifting the boys up to see the animals better. It was then with my older son perched on his shoulders, and my younger clinging to his hand, that I knew I was in love.

We married just a few short months later, and Barrett has transformed into a loving husband and father. That was almost 3 years ago. He cooks breakfast each morning for the boys before they get on the school bus, helps coach their soccer teams, chaperones field trips, and attends Cub Scout activities. He teaches them how to shoot a bow and arrow, how to set up a tent, and how to build things with their hands. Barrett is gentle, yet firm, loving and unwaveringly steady. Most of all, after a rocky beginning of life for my sons, where I was in a very unhealthy, angry relationship with their father, Barrett shows them how to treat and cherish a woman. Barrett is not afraid to encourage my dreams and success. Because of my wonderfully hot and amazing husband, I even get to pursue my dream of attending nursing school this fall. When asked by others if he has any children, or will ever have children of his own, Barrett simply answers, “I already have two amazing sons.”