Dave and I were married for nine years before we got pregnant with Silas. It was enough time to make me feel like I knew just about everything about him- and then wham, parenting blew that idea right out of the water. Watching him in the role of Dad tapped in to parts of him that I’d never seen before. Plainly stated, it was awesome. And, it only gets better as Silas gets bigger and they have more creative ways to interact. Dave has this casually fun side to him and comes up with all sorts of little games that are now some of Silas’ favorite activities. They are among the things that I don’t want to forget about this stage of parenting… like little treasures that sprinkle the daily grind of all things toddler… things I love to sit back and watch as an observer to my own family… they totally warm my heart.
The first is “daddy needs a hug.” No matter where Silas is or what he is engaged in (90% of the time…) if Dave is sitting somewhere and says those four words in his kind of drawn-out affectionate style… Silas comes running and literally leaps into Dave’s lap and throws his arms around his neck. Priceless.
The next is “boys club.” Silas has his “blankies” (which happen to be receiving blankets from the hospital- we have four of them that we rotate) and he’ll carry them up to Dave and say “boys club”. Then they cover their heads under the blanket, squeal, shake their heads from side to side and Dave makes funny faces at Silas. Ohhhh this generates the laughs.
A third, is “whisker burn”. I know, it sounds more like a whitty name for the infliction of pain- but I assure you… this is all fun. Dave scoops Silas up and nuzzles him with his face… which often has at least a day or two’s worth of whiskers growing. It tickles Silas and he loves it. There have been a few times when we’ve been out in public and Silas has run up to Dave saying, “whisker burn”… and it always makes me wonder what the bystanders are thinking!!
The final one I’ll share today is “pillow boxing.” Dave grabs the throw pillows from the couch and holds one in each hand facing each other. Silas runs up between the pillows and Dave shakes him back and forth- almost like he’s in a pillow car wash. Inevitably- Silas likes to continue this game until he is exhausted and he usually has a melt down when it’s time for the game to end… he would play it all day and probably all night.
I love the games that they play.
so tender.
i LOVE this post!
this is great. reading about this made me smile.
thanks for sharing some of the things in your life that make YOU smile.
At the beginning of our parenting years I was jealous of DaRonn and this special bond he had with the kids because they played together. That silly phase in my life lasted the whole of a day. Then I became so grateful that they had a father that loved them enough to play with them and make them feel special. All the way down to a special nickname for each kid. And they ask him (even though they know), “What is my nickname?” Just so they can hear him speak their special name. Like you said – it is awesome. What a priceless treasure it is to have a father who loves his kids.
Amy, Ask David if he got the term, “whisker burn,” from his dad. I think he used that term with David when he was small.
I am proud of both yours and David’s parenting skills, love and devotion to Silas. Great Job!
Love, Mom Riep
Loved this post! Kev and I were married 8 years before Andrew and I felt much the same way. From the moment Kev took Andrew in his arms shortly after coming out of me there was a sparkle that entered his eyes and hasn’t left! I love to stand back and just watch their silliness. It is a beautiful thing to watch Father’s interact with their sons. Even though Andrew is just 15 months old he and Kev already have their special games too. I smiled as I read yours…..picturing Silas and Dave doing each one of these…..too cute!!
i loved this post, kitty.
i cannot wait to get to know you two in a whole new way in your parenting role…