My little one is obsessed with her father these days. It's giving new meaning to the father-daughter bond.
There’s something about dads that is precious. I can tell that my husband loves being a dad and my daughter loves him for it.
Saturday mornings are a special time in our house. Daddy and daughter hang out all morning, while I get a few extra hours of precious sleep. I don't know what they get up to, but it's left a lasting impression.
My daughter worships her father these days. It has reached ridiculous levels. If daddy puts her into my arms and walks away, she will sob hysterically despite being cuddled by her mother.
In fact, you might say that my daughter's hero worship for her father is verging on crazy-obsessive stalker who's stolen her hero's underpants. Quite literally in our case — my little one loves dragging daddy's boxers around the house.
While dad is at work, I am peppered with the same question all day long. "Da Da?" which is loosely translated as "where's daddy?"
It seems I've become the second string parent. This is despite being the main diaper changer, provider of food, comedienne, singer, clown and all-round champion. I get usurped by the guy who walks in and waves to her every evening. Yes, life is deeply unfair.
My daughter has even created a dance for her father. We call it the "daddy dance." When Dad walks in the door, my daughter's feet start stomping, arms flap frantically and bum wiggles. The dance begins silently and builds toward an ear splitting climax ... "DA DA, DA DA, DA DA!!!"
Most of the time this dance is completely adorable, but there are always exceptions. Recently we were at a friend's house with many other toddlers when daddy — momentously — arrived. My daughter started frantically doing the "daddy dance" and hurled herself at lightning speed towards the door, threatening to take out any child in her path. She was literally pushing small children out of her way to reach her father. It was mortifying.
Other than the budding violence issues, which need to be curbed before they get any worse, the relationship between my daughter and her father is lovely to see.
When do girls start becoming a daddy's girl? I think it happened at birth. The minute my husband held up my daughter and whispered, "I love you" in her ear, the daddy-daughter relationship began.
The relationship was also built in changing diapers and wiping up puke. Dads that show up and put in their time are important. My husband will be the male role model that will teach my daughter what to expect from men for the rest of her life. My husband's job is not for the faint of heart.
We’ve heard it many times. Our relationship with our fathers has a powerful impact on other relationships and our own development. Our connection with the world around us, our self-esteem, and our ability to cope with the challenges of life are impacted by that relationship.
So I'm happy to be the second string parent. I'll never know what happens on Saturday mornings, but apparently it is something very magical.
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