I Finally Have a Hero

I am married to a hero, a super star. His name is Daddy. The shouts of glee and much awaited excitement confirm my hunch that he is... the man. Yes, they love me too. I know this. I have no issues of inferiority. But, I am very glad he’s their hero. Shouldn’t he be?

I get a little giddy over him too. When I see his car turn down our road, my heart skips as I jump from the couch, “Daddy’s coming!” He’s my savior--especially during this very long, rainy season of spring. We’ve been in the house all day long. Done it all. I’ve made play dough, read zillions of books, played school, wrestled, leapt from furniture shouting, “Super Mom!” made breakfast and lunch and snack and prepped dinner, and I’m pooped, done. He’s my knight in shining armor. He slays the dragon of monotony and fatigue.

After a day spent giving as a teacher, he comes home and gives some more. He shows genuine exuberance and joy at seeing our faces. The feelings are mutual. He raves about mommy’s cooking, supports my wish that all participate in cleaning up the dinner table, plays hours of living room soccer, creates mini-science experiments, changes diapers because, “I just can’t do one more,” and then helps me tuck them all into bed.

Then he listens. I need to process. I have things to say. This is when he really relies on his super powers. This is quite a stretch for someone who is a confirmed introvert. But he does it. Why? He loves me. This is also amazing. After eleven years I can tell he loves me even more than he did when he first married me and made those life-long vows to love and cherish and listen.

He lost our wedding ring a year into our marriage. He was helping someone with the plumbing on their house and didn’t realize it had fallen into the abyss of pipes and water pressure until he came home. A ring didn’t seem to fit his style anyway. I convinced myself it wasn’t a big deal. He was always taking it off to do this or that, so I suggested a tattoo. I mentioned this to a teaching colleague of mine and they said with warning, “Whoa, that’s permanent.”

Why would I ever give up something this good! You bet it is permanent. I’m glad we have a life-long arrangement. I’m glad that our first decade together is only a sliver of the years we have coming our way. Since having kids my love and adoration toward him has grown. I need him as much as the boys do. I’m better with him than I am without. I’m happy to shout, “Daddy!” I run for my hug too. I only smile when all three boys crowd on to his lap for our family movie nights, and I’m left to my lonesome on the couch. Everyone needs a hero, and I’m glad to be living life with mine.