Hooray for Good Daddies!

One of my most popular posts is the one entitled "Hooray for Good Husbands." So here's the sequel! When I married the love of my life, I knew he would be a good husband. He had treated me like a princess since the day we met, and I didn't expect that to change. Although I knew he was "the ONE" and the person I wanted to build a life with, I had no way of knowing what a wonderful father he would be to our three girls. I certainly didn't realize at the time just how important a good father is to the development of a precious child.
Daddies are different, and I for one think that is a really good thing. Moms tend to be the nurturing, protective ones, while dads encourage their kids to take that chance or try something new. And yes, sometimes those new adventures end with a trip to the emergency room! But life is about having fun! Putting yourself out there and being uninhibited are things that fade away soon enough as we trudge into adulthood. I for one want my kids to experience the exciting, sometimes dangerous things that life has to offer, even if it scares me a little sometimes. My six year old girls run barrels, and I have no problem admitting that I have trouble breathing when they are riding. Daddy takes them down to the alleyway and gives them their pre-run pep talk. I'm pretty sure it does not included the words "hold on" like mine would.
Little girls get their self-esteem (or lack thereof) from their daddies. He really is the first man in a girl's life. She learns by watching him interact with her mother how she should expect to be treated. Little girls want to hear that they are beautiful and special, and they want to hear it from their dads. Girls love attention, and if they don't get it at home, believe me, they will go looking for it somewhere else.
I absolutely love to hear my husband tell one of my girls that she is the most beautiful little girl in the world, and that he's so glad she is his child. She may not know it yet, but those words are making an imprint on her very soul, and they will stay with her for a lifetime. People remember how you make them feel, even more so than what you say. I know when my girls look back on their childhoods, they will remember that their dad made them feel good about themselves, and their husbands better know how to do the same.
I am from a family of wonderful, strong, smart women. I love each and every one of them. But I know enough now to realize that they didn't get where they were by themselves. Some of them had wonderful husbands, and some of them had wonderful fathers. They needed those strong, loving men, and so did their kids. So kudos to the great daddies out there! Don't let society tell you that your kids don't need you in their lives. They love, want, and need you to be there for them!