fathers day part 3

Fathers Day round up part 3!

When my daughters were little they would watch the clock for when daddy was coming home from work. They knew what the numbers meant and they would run to their dress up box and be all decked out and ready so that when he walked in the door still wearing his suit, they could be standing there waiting in their white, tulle, bride dresses with a tutu on their head as a veil holding whatever random flowers they could find. They would take turns holding one of his fingers and spinning around while chanting, “getting married, getting married, getting married!!!” This was such a daily ritual that we stopped even noticing it, it was just part of the routine of our lives. Like so many other things about childhood, I don’t remember marking the moment it stopped. I don’t remember making sure to take photos of the last time they were that little, the last time daddy in a suit = man I’m going to marry. Like so many things, it must’ve faded and faded and eventually stopped until one day those little twirly brides turned into teenagers who text us teasing jokes about how out of touch we are as millennials. We love the teenagers. But we still miss the little brides with their high pitched sweet voices. And this right here is the whole story of parenthood: loving them, growing up, letting go, letting grow. I’ve been grateful to share this parenting road with such an amazing man who is such a great father to our kids. He is a teacher by trade and he uses that skill all day every day in our home and I am so endlessly grateful for how he’s shaping our kids. Happy Fathers day to all the fathers who consistently show up for their kids in all the ways, even when it’s hard, and love them all their days ❤️

[all prints available at: https://www.stephaniehock.com/prints/fatherhood]