Best. Dad. Ever.

In choosing a father for my future child, I knew that I could place the bar incredibly high because I had seen and felt the positive influence of my own dad. Master of dad jokes, sound advice, and listening to hours of piano practice, my father claimed that he had learned everything he knew from the Father’s Handbook.

Somehow, some way, I was fortunate enough to find a partner who must have read the same Handbook–the one that describes the role of a father as a multi-faceted, always-evolving journey and defines success as being where your kids need you to be at each stage. Or maybe (and much more likely) they both come by this naturally!

Kendall’s dad and my Team Kendall co-captain has ebbed and flowed along with our wild exploration of what our family life should look like. We’ve picked one another back up after a falter or fall and pushed one another forward as we all try to make progress. As we approach even bigger changes with her unpredictable development and a shift to middle school, finding the right kind of outside support has become the most difficult challenge so far. Kendall is unique and so are her needs, so finding someone able and willing to commit to care for her has become a constant strain.

To ease this strain and provide Kendall with the care she needs and deserves, I could not be more proud and appreciative of Tom’s recent decision to become a stay-at-home dad! She has only two more days of school and will get to spend special time with all of her grandparents this week while Tom wraps up his current job, and starting next week, we will all be able to enjoy the stability that his new role will bring to our family.

She has no idea what this means yet, and it will probably take several weeks for her to understand this new rhythm, but I can’t wait to see the relief that this will bring! Knowing that her dad is by her side for support and silliness is exactly what Kendall needs right now, and having my partner take on these enormous responsibilities is the best gift he could have given me. Wait…isn’t he supposed to be the one getting gifts on Father’s Day?

Happy Father’s Day to the best dad ever!