Not that I ever had a heart of stone before I had kids, but ever since Cragbaby came along I’ve noticed that I turn into a sappy ball of mush at the drop of a hat when it comes to reflective songs, movies, or conversations involving the love between parent and child.  For the first 6 months post-partum I blamed it on wild hormones, but at 26 months I hardly have that excuse anymore.  It may have something to do with that old adage that having a child means that you are forever destined to wear your heart on the outside of your body.  At first I was a little embarrassed about it – it’s one thing to get a little misty-eyed in the car with C whenever I hear that country song about the dad lecturing the prospective suitor and cleaning his gun (probably because my dad really WAS waiting in the living room with gun cleaning kit in hand when my now-hubby came to pick me up for my junior prom), but it’s quite another to blubber like an emotional wreck throughout the entirety of “We Bought a Zoo.”  (Just when I had myself under control, Matt Damon would start reliving memories with his wife again…).  But the more I think about it, the more I’m seeing my newfound capacity to feel a little more deeply as a gift.  Maybe it’ll help keep my priorities in check over the years and I’ll be less tempted to take the smallest but most meaningful things in life for granted.  

But Father’s Day is one of those times where even the hardest of hearts soften up a little bit, and now that my husband is a dad, there are two men in my life to celebrate!  So in honor of the dads (and to pay homage to my emo habit), here’s a few song lyrics that seem appropriate for this special occasion…

Me and my sweet Daddy, circa 1985

 “But I loved her first and I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
And I prayed that she’d find you someday
But its still hard to give her away
I loved her first”
-I Loved Her First, by Rodney Atkins 

Cragbaby and his sweet Daddy

“He said I’ve been watching you dad, ain’t that cool
I’m your buckaroo, I wanna be like you
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are
We like fixing things and holding mama’s hand
Yeah we’re just alike, hey ain’t we dad
I wanna do everything you do
So I’ve been watching you”
– Watching You, also by Rodney Atkins 

 Although we haven’t done it since Cragbaby’s been born, my dad and I have a long history of going on Father/Daughter Adventures together.  My childhood memories of these adventures consist of a blur of mountains, coonskin caps, bears, and swinging bridges.  Our grown-up adventures usually involve bikes and some sort of mishap (For a play by play of the last trip, click here…)  I’m so thankful for the experiences we’ve been able to share together, and I look forward to many more.  As far as my “baby daddy” goes, he’s pretty awesome as well.  C is a lucky little guy because he gets to go on adventures with his Daddy all the time (and I’m glad that most of the time they let me come along too…)  What about everyone else?    Let’s brag on all the dads out there – what memories and adventures come to mind first when you picture either your own dad or your child’s dad?