Dear Husband,
You want to know a little secret? You were meant for this too.
You’ve told me plenty of times in the last five years that I was meant for this. This is the job I was born to do. It’s so natural. I do all this way better than you ever could.
I was made to be a mom.
Well, I’m here to tell you, that while that may be a little bit true, you were meant for this too. It may just look a little different for you.
You were meant to be a dad.
You were meant to be the builder. To carefully sit there on our living room floor with a kind of patience I simply do not have, nor will I ever possess.
You were meant to be the wild one before bedtime. To get that little girl who was just yelling about not wanting to go to bed to squeal with delight as you get into all kinds of non-mom approved chaos.
You were meant to spend countless hours playing the board games you know Mama doesn’t like. To be just competitive enough to keep our daughter on her toes, but gentle enough to not let her crack from the pressure of trying to beat Daddy.
You were meant to take us on long car rides and play the music just a little too loud. To pretend to be mad at our terrible karaoke skills, but also (even if its reluctantly) put on “Barbie Girl” for the umpteenth time.
You were meant to carry a sleepy little girl from the car on a late night out. To grumble that she’s getting too big, while secretly loving the way her tired little head settles just right on your strong shoulders.
You were meant to shake your head when she shakes her little hips putting on a show. Both wanting to laugh at her silliness and be equally as terrified of her teenage years.
You were meant to teach her how to use a bat or catch a ball. Sunday morning recitals aren’t for you but watching her whack that ball into the woods is just your speed.
You were meant to fiercely protect us, the way you always have, at any and all costs. To threaten to run right over to the school yourself when you hear another little girl has been unkind to yours.
You were meant to provide for us in every sense of the word. To work the long days and late nights for us. To miss Saturdays at home to make sure that little girl doesn’t ever have to miss any event or activity or adventure her heart desires.
You were meant to love her mama and rally behind her so she can carry the weight of the things you can’t. To be the glue that keeps us from cracking. To sit silently on the sidelines while Mama takes the lead, knowing you are there to back me up the second I start to stumble.
You were meant to love us so much bigger than we ever imagined possible.
So maybe you don’t think you were born to be a dad. Maybe some traditional “parenting” roles don’t come as second nature to you. But I’ll tell you what—you were, without any doubt, born to be this little girl’s daddy.
And I’m so glad you are.
by Valli Vida Gideons 
by Kayci Villarreal 
by Angela Williams Glenn 
