Often overshadowed by St. Patrick's Day is the even greater feast during the month of March in the Catholic church, St. Joseph Day on March 19. St. Joseph is the patron, role model, and advocate in heaven for fathers.
In light of the occasion, I took a few minutes yesterday to think of my husband's relationship with our children. While my husband has half-siblings, he grew up as an only child in his parent's household. Because of this I think he is sometimes a bit overwhelmed having 4 children in the house as we do. I think he remembers "home" being a much quieter place than what ours has become! He seems to do best dealing with the children one-on-one, though tonight he took on all 4 while I attended a Special Education Advisory Committee Meeting for our county. He deserves a lot of credit for keeping a baby girl who thinks she is entitled to be attached to Mommy 24 hours a day and has recently discovered the joy of cookies and the ability to ask for them (that is all she says ALL DAY - "gook", rhymes with "book").
Go-kart racing has become the family hobby in the past year. So far only my husband and oldest son participate, but the plan is for this to change as the next two boys get older. It is looking as though racing will be the venue for all of us to be involved in something together. There are plans to involve Samuel this year by letting him try driving. Then next year our youngest son will start.
We don't know what to expect with Samuel. I cannot picture him following the necessary rules to participate, but he could always surprise us! Perhaps if he cannot drive then he could help with mechanical things as time goes on. I'm guessing I will eventually be the fan club and event family organizer. Maybe our baby girl will drive some day too! With any luck I'll at least get to see my oldest son in a race this year, but I don't expect the entire family to be involved for several years yet. I might be kicking and screaming when I do get involved, but I want to act according to what everyone in the family enjoys.
My husband and I bring our own strengths into the family. I sometimes complain about how we don't "work together" enough, but I am grateful for his unique personality and outlook on life. He is much better at bringing fun activity in for the boys than I am, especially as they get older. Dealing with Samuel, and two additional babies since he was diagnosed, has taken its toll on me in that regard, I'm just too tired during and at the end of the day to care about much else beyond the little world of child rearing that I live in. A short trip during Easter and a Disney World vacation are being planned and all I can think of so far is how difficult they will be! If it was up to me I'd probably just spend the next few years catching up on housework. Thank goodness my husband won't let that happen.
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