I married you without knowing the type of father you would be... and how could I've known? Motherhood has changed me and shaped me in ways I never expected... it's only normal you'd change too.
That day we went to our first prenatal appointment and heard our baby's heartbeat marked your journey into fatherhood. You took care of me through rough pregnancies and you talked to our babies even when my baby bump wasn't visible.
You knew how important it was for me to have these babies naturally, and not only were you supportive of the decision, you were my rock, you helped me bring them into this world and that moment when you first held our baby... I will never forget it. That day, a father was born too.
Anyone can have a child, but it takes a special kind of man to be a father. You didn't have an example of how to be a good father, yet you are the best father our kids could have. You are our protector and our hero, the source of love and happiness in our lives.
You never let our kids cry, in a world where doing that seems so normal. You kissed their bruises, even when they didn't exist. You listened, even when they couldn't speak. You held them, when they needed you the most. You became a father that teaches with love. Your heart is so big and it shows with how you parent and treat our kids. I really admire you.
You work so many hours, early mornings and long nights to provide for us and give us the life we want. I know it hurts when you have to go to work and our oldest is crying because she wants to be by your side all day. But it is thanks to you and your hard work that we have such a great life.
You manage to take time off work just to spend the entire day with us. You let me sleep in every morning you can while the kids play with you. You put your computer to the side when our oldest insists on playing with you... because you know she's more important than work.
You see, my love, our kids are who they are because they have you as a father. A father who always hugs them, who makes them feel loved. A father who plays with them for hours and loves it, even when you're playing the most boring game. A father who laughs at our daughter's knock-knock jokes that make no sense because you know how much your reaction means to her. A father who doesn't punish but understands what our child is going through and guides her through her emotions. A father who will let his daughter explore and be adventurous but never loses sight of what she's doing. A father who is always there. A father our daughters are obsessed with.
You are so loved, you are so appreciated and every day that goes by I am grateful to have met you. I am grateful to have married you even when I didn't know what type of father you'd be. My instincts didn't let me down. I had a feeling you were the one and you are more than I could have ever dreamed of having, as a husband and as the father of my children.
Thank you, my love, for being part of our lives, for always being there, for never giving up on our family, for giving us this life and for being you. Today I want to wish you Happy Father's Day.
To all the dads out there, thank you for everything you do. We might not say it enough, but we see all you do, we appreciate all you do, we love you and you have made our lives so much better. Thank you.
This post originally appeared on Mama instincts.
Like Mama instincts on Facebook for more posts like this and follow our parenting adventures on Instagram.