Thursday, June 19, 2014

Happy Father’s Day…to My Perfect

Six years ago, I sat down and made a checklist in my journal (or, at least my attempt at a journal). My goal? To write down the qualities I wanted in a life partner. After a failed marriage and a shitty relationship that was wrong from the beginning, I found myself a bit hopeless that the passion for which I was searching actually existed. Then I received some of the best advice ever from my mom’s best friend. She told me I have the power to create my perfect; I was young, passionate, willing to take risks – and had a blank slate. So, before I fell asleep that night I wrote down a list of things I wanted for my life. And then forgot I did it.

It was a little less than a year later when my now husband – then (very dreamy) boyfriend – and I moved into our first apartment together. As I unpacked my things, I came across the book I tried to turn into a journal – and opened it directly to that submission. Then, with tears running down my face, I looked up at JF and realized I had in fact created my perfect. Before me, in our own kitchen, stood a man who made me laugh, loved children, knew how to love and communicate, was respectful and passionate. And, after two moves (one that took us more than 1,000 miles from the first), one child, a marriage, several new jobs – and many other experiences along the way – nothing has changed.

As I looked at this man’s face on Father’s Day, I was filled with love and gratitude. Not only for the unrelenting love he feels for me, but for the love he gives to his children. He is strict but loving; fun and educational; never afraid to say how much he loves them (and, even as important, never holds back saying the same to me in front of them); fair and respectful. Our son tells me he loves the way I look, what I’m wearing and glad that I’m his mamma – and that is fully due to the love JF demonstrates and encourages every day. 

There is no other man I would want to celebrate as the father of my child (and maybe even someday children). I am humbled by the universe, and the opportunity it gave me to create my own perfect. Six years later, and it is still perfection. 

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