A father's love

As I type, my father is outside mowing our lawn.
After spending an hour this morning fixing the railing on our porch.
And accompanying me and my tribe of small people to the Farmer's Market, just because.

He lives in a different province but he still flew up here to spend just shy of a week with our family. As I continue my current feud with anxiety, he thought it would be helpful for me to have an extra set of hands with the kids during the very full summer days.

It is so incredibly humbling being loved this way.



Throwback photo to one year ago; grandparents + little kids + "Paw Patrol"

Sometimes I wish I was more "capable" than I am; I feel embarrassed that the concrete help from my parents is something I want so dearly, and do so much better with. If only I was stronger, I think, I could manage family life without inconveniencing my mom and dad to the degree that I do.

But the truth is, they enjoy being a part of their lives. They are proud of their grandchildren, and I would even dare to say, proud of me as a mom.





So I accept his presence as a beautiful, generous gift.
I also thank God that my father's example here is moulding the hearts of my sons into a beautiful image of what a man can be.

Comments

  1. ElenaJuly 22, 2017 at 10:02 AM

    Those feelings of inadequacy that you need your parents are nonsense. The real nonsense is not living with extended family around. Scientific, sociological etc. studies all prove that we are supposed to be together. I will never forget the study of a few years ago where researchers concluded that a woman will generally have one more child based on one detail alone - the presence of her mother, not her mother-in-law, but her mother. It's called the grandmother hypothesis. Also, another study that I recently read On why breastfeeding is so hard for western women concluded that success in breastfeeding is often dictated by, once again, the presence of grandma. And, in conclusion, years ago my sister and I read a study that concluded that a child's sense of self and mental health are greatly strengthened by having six strong relationships with adults in their lives. Hmmm, I wonder who those should be with? Mom, dad and the four grandparents? The radical autonomy imposed on us by family being flung to the ends of the earth is just plain stupid. Enjoy that dad of yours. (We do!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jenna CraineJuly 23, 2017 at 8:15 AM

      I read that article about the presence of a grandmother improving breastfeeding results! But I forgot about the study about women having one more child with the mom's mom around.

      I do intellectually know those feelings of mine are nonsense, but I am so prone to feeling them anyway.

      Delete
  2. MelissaJuly 22, 2017 at 10:56 AM

    Wow! I can attest to Elena's comment above. Last year when living away from my mother, but near my husband's mother, I was terrified at the idea of becoming pregnant because I didn't feel I'd have the support needed as I was feeling utterly alone in support in the early months/year with our fourth baby. Now that we're home and close to my mom again, I actually feel my fears melt away and I'm not so concerned. I thought it was because God was working on my heart, and though it's likely that (of course!), it's probably the presence and support of my mom, as per that study.

    So glad your loving dad is there to be with you and love you up with acts of serviced presence :) XO!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jenna CraineJuly 23, 2017 at 8:16 AM

      Melissa your mom is one of the proudest grandmothers I know! I'm so, so glad you get to be close to her now!

      Delete

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