Dad, Daddy, Father, Papa...

Happy late Thanksgiving everyone!! I have had a great couple of days off (minus having three papers due on Monday and my computer continually crashing). Sleeping in until 9 am has been a SERIOUS blessing, especially since coming down with a crazy cough - I need as much sleep as possible. So, I guess if I am going to get sick, the week I don't really go to school would be the perfect one! Also, I can now listen to Christmas music without being yelled at by my roommates! "It's not Christmas time! Let Thanksgiving happen first!" (Excuse me if I wanted to keep the Christmas spirit alive a little longer...) Anyway, now that I have updated you all on my glamorous life, let's get down to business!

Please enjoy this cartoon that I LOVE 

I think that this is a pretty accurate representation of what parenthood is like. "But Emily, you don't have any kids!" Yes, voice in my head, you're right. I don't have any kids. However I do have A LOT of cousins, and my cousins have A LOT of kids, and I have been watching them raise their kiddos for pretty much my whole life. Let me tell you - those little critters keep them on their toes.

Moms and Dads working together to raise their children. That is what Heavenly Father wants us to do. Yes mothers have different primary responsibilities than fathers do, but He wants us to work together no matter what. 

Now, watch this commercial that kind of annoys me: 

 Dad's are not incompetent fools that can barely take care of their children. At least they shouldn't be. However, society, with the great hand of media helping, has created this stereotype that Dads, and men in general, can't do anything right when it comes to the home and their children. Moms are always the ones who get the reputation of the hardest worker, or wearing the pants in the family. That is not to say that moms are not hard workers, but they are not, and should not, be the only ones that do anything around the house.

It just so happens that I wrote a paper on Fatherhood for a class I am taking. Is it weird to quote yourself? It might be, but this is what I said in my paper;

Dad at Olive Garden!

"My own father and I have always had a really good relationship. Dad never finished his degree, but he knows more about cooking, camping, and handy man work than any man I have ever met. From stories I have heard from his past, he has always had a thirst for knowing how to do things. He also has a mind that can figure out how things work just from prior knowledge. My mom often asks him to “jerry – rig” things in the house when they break. He is the only in our household, and the on call handy man for the rest of our extended family. Once on a family vacation, dad fixed the car with a piece of wire he found lying on the side of the rode (just like MacGyver). He is dedicated to everything he wants to learn. When he went to cooking school, he did not miss a single day (even if he was sick) the whole year. He talks about that often and with great pride, so I know it was important to him. My dad is also dedicated to his family. When his sister owned a daycare, when she asked he would dress up as Santa Claus and will go ask the kiddos what they wanted for Christmas. My dad has taught me to put pride into my work, not only for school but for the little fun projects I try on the side. He supported me in every hobby I tried as a kid. He took me to every ballet lesson, every softball practice, and every drama rehearsal. I know that even though they might not have been important to him on their own, he still loved participating in my life, because it was my life, and he loved me. I see now, how important that support is, as I support my friends in the things that they enjoy doing - even if what they love isn't my favorite thing to do."

My dad has always taught me to go outside of my comfort zone. He has always had faith that I can do whatever I set my mind to. I remember when I was in the 8th grade, and they were asking kids to write possible speeches for graduation. I don't know why, but I really wanted to participate. I wanted to write the "theme speech" (which I can't remember for the life of me), and I was getting really discouraged. I didn't know what to write and I didn't want to sound like a fool. Dad came into my room and talked with me about the speech I was trying to write. He encouraged me to keep trying - and even gave me a few ideas that made it into my speech. I read my speech to the principal, vice principal, and a few other people high up in our school, and they said thank you, called me in a few hours later and asked me to read my speech to the whole school and their parents. They assigned me the last slot for talking during the graduation. It was one of the coolest moments in my life, and it was my dad who encouraged me to keep on trying, even when I wanted to quit. 

Another important lesson that my dad has taught me my entire life, is that he loves and cherishes my mom. Literally, every chance he got he told me how much he loved her. I know she felt it too, because she often tells me how cherished she feels by him. That, I think, is one of the most important jobs a dad has - to show his children the love he has for their mother. If I didn't have him - I would have no idea how a man treats his wife. Who knows where I would be right now, if I didn't have his example I would have no idea what qualities I want in my future husband. My mom is the 1st counselor in our ward's Relief Society presidency, and my dad has supported her in every aspect of that calling (Mom doesn't cook...) - even though he really doesn't have to because he is not a part of the Relief Society. However, he does anyway, simply because he loves my mom and would do anything for her.

Holy cow you guys. Dads are so important. Society likes to say that a mom and can be the exact equivalent that a dad is, but it isn't true. Men and women are different. Moms and dads bring different things to the parenting game. Of course, life happens and not everyone is fortunate enough to have a dad to shove them out onto the softball field when they are terrified of getting hit. All families have to work with the life they are given. Girls - look for a man who will be that dad your kids deserve. Boys - decide right now to be man enough to be a good, involved dad. 

Think about Heavenly Father. He is our spiritual dad. When Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane, he called out "...Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt." (Mark 14:36) I have been told that "Abba" is the equivalent of "Daddy." Christ went to His father, His daddy, to help Him through this incredible task that He knew He had to do. Fathers are there to push us up when we feel inadequate. Heavenly Father did it for Christ, my dad did it for me. Generalization: Moms tend to be much more emotional than dads. Not to say that dads don't love their children, but they sometimes have a bit of a clearer head when it comes to their kids doing hard - but good - things.  

My dad has always been humble about his testimony, and that has taught me that a testimony is not something we brag about. It is something we share, because we feel prompted by the spirit. I am so grateful for my dad, and I know that Heavenly Father sent me to him, so that he could be my dad. So that he could teach me how to grill chicken, bake bread, and make pasta. So that he could take me out on Daddy Daughter dates and show me how I, a Daughter of God, should be treated. So that he can teach me what it means to have a testimony, and love that testimony so it will grow. 

I love my dad, my daddy, my father, my papa.