"How beautiful is our Catholic faith! It provides a solution for all our anxieties; it gives peace to the mind and fills the heart with hope."
- St. Joemaria Escriva, The Way: 582
Okay, maybe that last photo isn't so beautiful... but the other two are pretty darn cute!
Last weekend we celebrated Bob's 4th birthday. It's crazy to think my son is already four years old. And if you hadn't heard, Amanda and I are expecting our 3rd in March! Time does fly.
Even Mary, my Little Mary America, is getting older and starting to act like a little girl and less like a little baby girl. (sniff sniff).
Everyone tells you to enjoy them while they're this age. That time truly does fly by. I'll admit that I do look forward to them growing up a bit- but that's really because I enjoy my time so much more now that I can actually interact with them. But I can also admit that I take things for granted as well.
Amanda left Sunday night for a work trip. Typically, the whole family packs up and we all go together. However, next week she's headed to Texas for work, and this weekend we'll be in Dallas for our first ever Success School with Advocare! We're pretty pumped to go, but knew all the traveling would be a bit crazy for the kids. So home we are.
With her gone (and the kids asking at just about every nap, meal, and bedtime we've had- "is Mommy home yet?") it's got me thinking- what would happen if... well... something did happen to one of us? Not only how would I react, but how would the kids react?
Then this morning while I was working out:
My new trainer gave me a little insight into his life. I was pretty impressed in one way at how open he was. I had met 3 or 4 times for an hour each with my last PT and he hadn't shared much at all with me. This new guy though... opened right up. It began by him asking me how long I had been married for when he saw my ring. (I guess I should wear that thing more often in public... just kidding darling.) He then explained to me that he had been divorced once and was getting married again in October. He mentioned that he had a 7 year old girl in Texas with his ex, and a 22 month old with his current fiancé. From there he dove into all the struggles he's had keeping in touch with his little girl in Texas and the poor relationship he has with her mother.
Obviously it was sad. Tragic even. It made me reflect on my own life and my own relationship with my kids and wife.
I share this because all this came after and amongst other conversation that focused more on his work... and well, his accomplishments in the gym. The man was a sharer for certain. The priorities in his life were clear. Needless to say I had a great workout!
So how is this all connected?
What will my children's priorities be as they grow up? What are my priorities now?
Often when people hear that I am a stay at home dad I get "Oh that's nice... how long will you be doing that for?" Well... it's not a hobby. As far as I can see I'll be doing this until the kids don't need me to do this. Home Schooling starts in September (Bob will be in Pre-K) and well life is happening everyday.
I have to admit- this whole staying home things has come pretty naturally. Yes, it's been hard. Yes, it can be annoying. And yes, sometimes I just want to run away and eat some bon bons! But really- what job doesn't make us want to do that? I see those moments more of my own failings than anything else.
Before I stayed home I was struggling to make ends meet first as an English teacher, then as a FOCUS missionary, and then as a Youth Minister. I love missionary work. I love my faith! But my mission now is to serve my family and those people God places in my life through interactions in and around the home. And I do see it as a mission!
Let's be honest here: my wife is the true hero amongst us. As tough as my job is and as stereotyped as I get she get's it from both sides. She's either a bad mom who has abandoned her children at home or she's the super woman striving to defeat all those male chauvinist pigs out in the working world.
Well... she's neither. She a woman who loves her God, loves her family, and loves her work. The woman is a genius! No really... she is! She's got her doctorate in something that has taken me five years to learn how to properly explain... and I still get it wrong. But not only does she have her doctorate but she excels at her job. She loves her work and she's really good at it!
I teased her when she started at StateFarm that she'd be running the company in a few years. (Trust me she has no dreams of doing so!) But her work ethic can't help but get her noticed. She does everything with excellence... and that is very attractive.
She's the true Super Hero in this family. Working hard out of the house and coming home and loving on both me and the kids each day. Her love and devotion far exceed my own and only causes me to strive all the harder to be a better man so that I can possibly lead such a great woman and our children.
So how do you raise Super Heroes?
Supporting them in their accomplishments (He tried spelling Surprenant but we don't have all the letters- but he made it clear which letters were standing in for the right ones!)
And setting a good example for them.
I love being a stay at home dad. Amanda loves working at StateFarm and using her degree. But most of all we both love our family... and that's what's our priorities and that's what will hopefully form our children's priorities.
Thanks for taking the time to read!
God bless,
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