This is how I know they are great parents.

With permission....

So Richie was showing signs of being very tired earlier than his usual afternoon nap time. Karen wanted to put him down to nap, but Tyler wanted to go pick up some lunch first and let Richie eat with him before his nap. Karen gently commented that she didn't think Richie could wait much longer to go to sleep. Still Tyler wanted to eat lunch with him plus he thought it would be better if Rich took an afternoon nap, not a morning nap. 

So while Tyler was out getting lunch, Karen and I tried to keep Rich busy with some pieces of apple, which quickly turned into several bites of pasta. By the time Tyler returned with burger/fry bag in tow, Richie was semi-full, and too exhausted to be interested in the fries, which were usually his favorite. 

So Tyler tried to put him down for a nap but by now, Richie wanted nothing to do with his crib. Normally putting this child down to sleep is no big deal. He loves his bed and seems to be so secure in sleeping when his need dictates. Not today! He cried and wailed and no matter what his Daddy did to calm him down, nothing worked. Finally Karen suggested they just let him cry it out, noting that "It will just take 3 minutes and he will be out." She was right.

Tyler felt so bad that his son had to cry himself to sleep. I even heard him say to Karen, "I'm a terrible father." She assured him that he is a very good father. 

This is what I found interesting: I think most wives would have been upset saying, "See, this is what happens when you try to put off his nap time. I told you he needed to go to sleep, and now look at him!" But she didn't say that at all. In fact when Richie was crying while Tyler was gone getting the lunch, she sweetly said to Rich, "Your Daddy just really wants to eat lunch with you." Not sure Richie understood that, but he will pick up on her attitude as he grows. He will see his parents calmly trying to work together. Making mistakes, we ALL do, but being tolerant of each other. 

This will mean more to help him grow up feeling secure and loved, than to always have the perfect schedule and perfect parenting solutions.



6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great Post.. and Tyler is an amazing Father!

The good news is now there is more fries for Karen and Tyler to share.

:)

Jay

Anonymous said...

Karen looks so great! She's glowing! Motherhood looks so good on her.
darlene

Scrapally said...

That is very sweet! They are both good parents!

Ammy said...

Sometimes I need a reminder like this to use words....because, with me, it's not what you say, but how you say it.

Susan Anderson said...

I agree. Great parents!

=)

Lisa said...

It's so neat to see how much everyone has grown. What a beautiful family!

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