A Father's Point of View

Last night was a great night to be a father. It made me realize that I do have a part in raising Hayden. I usually feel like the one who goes to work all day and comes home to deal with a fussy baby who has been cute all day and decides it is time to scream in her dad's face as soon as he walks in the door. We think that Hayden is starting to cut teeth because she has been considerably upset but it doesn't seem like she wants to be upset. She will smile one moment and the next be screaming. It is obvious that she is in pain.
Last night we went through the normal routine and Devin gave her a bath and got her ready for bed. You could tell her teeth were bothering her because she had this little painful cry that really breaks a guys heart and she keeps sticking her hands in her mouth and chewing on them. Dev was rocking her hoping that she would eventually pass out and I was playing Call of Duty 4 with a buddy online. Hayden normally passes right out after her night feeding but she was not having it. I walked in to Hayden's room and she was crying a little with Dev. We gave her a little bit of Tylenol and tried to put her down to no avail. Devin stayed with the little girl and I went back to my game. Well after a bit more of hearing my baby cry I just couldn't take it anymore. I asked Devin if I could hold her for a bit which Devin was more than happy to let me do. I cradled her in my arms and she immediately calmed down. She looked at me with her little blue teary eyes and her hand in her mouth and it was almost as if we knew what the other was thinking. I was thinking about how grateful I am that Heavenly Father has trusted me with such a precious and vulnerable little gift and it seemed as if she was thinking that she was grateful for a father that is involved in her life and loves her very much. She eventually drifted off to sleep in my arms (still with her hand in her mouth) and I was able to put her down for the night.



This night made me realize how much each child needs their father. I couldn't help but wonder if Hayden already has something biological in her that sees Devin as her nurturer and me as her protector. Maybe that is why she calmed down in my arms when she was in pain. I felt I had purpose in our family other than providing the money. I am grateful that I had a father in my life who NEVER neglected me even when I was a teenager and almost wished he would. I am grateful for awesome parents who gave me such good examples of how to love and care for their children. I am excited to be a part of Hayden's life and can't wait for all the experiences that are to come.