Marriage Moats-My Daddy

Published: Tue, 12/11/12

Marriage Moats

Caring for Marriage

I helped in the preschool last Tuesday. The teacher invited kids to bring in an apple, which they cored and peeled on her handy automatic apple slicer, then they rolled out the dough for a small apple pie. She added maple syrup and cinnamon, and spooned a mound onto the rolled crusts. We popped them in the oven and half an hour later lit a candle for snack. Each child got to munch on their warm little pie, as people raised their hands for a chance to Show and Tell.

"We went to the museum and saw dinosaur bones." Hands flew up.

"My dad is bigger than a dinosaur!"

"I went to that museum!"

After the flurry or responses subsided another child offered to speak.

"This is a rock from our trip to the beach."

"My dad took me to the beach! He is stronger than the biggest waves! He held me up high!"

More commentary revolving around sand and shovels.

"We put lights on our tree."

"My dad is soooo big he can put lights on the roof without a ladder!"

While some of their passionate statements seemed a tad stretched, I was struck by the intense loyalty to their fathers. They wanted, no needed to be proud. Their dads were tall, brave and invincible.

I can recall the feeling. My father used to play with me in the community pool and I felt safe and free riding on his broad back. One day he admitted to being tired and I was crestfallen. Tired? How was that possible? He was a hero. Heroes don't tucker out.

Children it seems are hardwired to long for their father's protection. In a perfect world those fathers are around to give it. But painfully not all fathers are still an arm's length away.

Photo by Andy Sullivan

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