Father’s Day Week | One Blessed Momma

Happy Father’s Day

Happy Father’s Day to all of the Father’s out there. Like Melinda and Mollie mentioned, Father’s come in so many different capacities and we are so thankful to those who step in when some cannot. I hope while we can share our experiences, we can encourage others along the way.

Personally, I and my girls are so thankful for my Father (their G-daddy) and my husband, the Father of my children.

My Father

My Father may not be a man of many words but his actions have always been consistent with who he is and how he feels about me. He always has encouraged me to grow mentally, physically, and most importantly spiritually because he believed life is about change. He always seemed to do well with change. I don’t know if it is because he is an entrepreneur and has to be fluid but any change that came our way he with my mother always searched for the good. They gave God all their faith, that God will provide and all they could do was continue to work hard, do what is right and have faith.

My Childhood

When I think back to my childhood, my dad took us on many adventures. Some near, close by to home, and some across the county. As a family, we almost made it to all 50 states. With my Dad’s family business we were able to travel to many states to get to the events. I was always so thankful he included us in these adventures and appreciated his importance in family time.

He was firm, yet soft in his delivery. I knew what he said went but also felt the overwhelming love he had for me. I am ultimately so thankful for my dad’s example of firmness, steadfastness, and unconditional love because it taught me what God expects from me and his love for me.

My Husband

My husband has always been my rock in raising our children. I’m so thankful for the discussion we had on our shared values in raising our children, before we got married and before we had children. Knowing we always have each other’s back is so pivotal in having consistency in raising children.

When I was pregnant with our second, he had to become a single parent when I had to get a cerclage done at the hospital. During the time I was in the hospital, he moved himself, our daughter, and our dog to my parents’ house. They were so helpful in creating a stable, safe home for our daughter throughout all this transition. Then a month later my water broke at 27 weeks I had our second daughter. He was a rock for me while in the hospital and throughout our whole 100 day, NICU stay. We cried together, prayed for our daughters together, and laughed together. When he held our 1 lb, 11 oz baby, for the first time my heart melted knowing, this is exactly what she needed to give her the strength to keep fighting.

I love watching him be a Daddy to our girls. He takes time for them after a long day’s work. He lets them come along and help him in his activities. He holds them, cares for them, hugs them, tells them he loves them, takes them on dates, plays with them and so much more. He is so loved by his little girls and I absolutely love watching them smile in awe when we visit him at work to drop off lunch.

Statistics

I remember back in college when I was studying to become a teacher there was one statistic that stuck out in my mind. It talked about how a Mother has an important role in the child’s development but if a Father reads to their child they would be more likely to become better readers themselves. The Father who play, nurture, and care for their children, raise children with higher IQs with better cognitive and language skills. When they’re involved and ask more questions it tends to build vocabulary and conversational skills.

“Babies who have fathers who are affectionate, respond quickly to their cries and other cues, and engage in loving play, are more securely attached to their fathers. Research shows that secure attachments have positive benefits that last into adulthood. Children who are securely attached do better academically; they are also more sociable and well-liked throughout early childhood as compared to children who do not have secure attachments.”

“New research shows that fathers may have an even greater impact on children’s language development than mothers. When fathers use more words with their children during play, children have more advanced language skills a year later. This is especially important because language skills are correlated with academic success.
The more time fathers spend in enriching, stimulating play with their child—such as playing pretend or sharing stories—the better the child’s math and reading scores are at 10 and 11 years old.”

AUTHOR : Claire Lerner ,Contributor

Meet Julia!

Julia is a wife to her high-school sweetheart, a mother to two beautiful girls and a follower of Christ. She loves crafting, teaching and is forever grateful for a God who is in control of all unknowns and thankful we can have a peace that surpasses all understanding.