Fatherhood

NOTE: Posted by Confederate Yankee, but written by our dad. I will not start talking about "the Phin" like one would talk about "the Manolo." He is right about everything else, however. My nephew is in very good hands.]

I had been asked by Phin to keep everyone up to date on how everything is going. Simply put Mom, Dad and Phinlet are all doing well. As the father of the Phin, I would like to make some observations:

I have had the great fortune to have three sons, all of whom I am very proud. I can look at them, each and everyone, and tell everyone that I have been successful as a father.

As a parent it has been a pleasure, mixed with an occasional headache and one or two heartaches watching them develop and mature into the fine young men, fathers and father to be. (Son number three just announced that he and wife are expecting in October. They withheld notification to keep from distracting from the excitement of the birth of the Phinlet. – See what I mean about fine men!)

Now to the Phin. He, of the three showed the least signs of being the cuddly type. He has always been the most reserved, even a little shy at first meeting. He has never demonstrated a “comfort� level with babies and small children, even his nieces.

Well, enter the Phinlet. You would think that the Phin had spent his entire life caring for little ones. There is no doubt that this baby is his and that he takes his role seriously. We were visiting the day of the birth, when it became necessary for the baby’s diaper to be changed. Nana, the Phin’s mom, jumped up ready to come to the rescue – but NO. The Phin would have none of it, he made it very clear to one and all that the baby is his son and he is responsible for his life, liberty and clean diapers. (This may change when they really start smelling.) But he has been ever by the side of his bride and son, never shirking his responsibilities. (He even turned down a chance to go fishing – now, in our family that is serious devotion).

Kidding aside. It has been a real pleasure to see how the Phin has adjusted to the role of father. I can tell you from personal observation that this is not a role that all males readily adapt to, but in my humble opinion, it is a role that a “man� will not only adapt to but will relish.

So let it be said, once again that the “old one� is very proud of the Phin and his “older and sometimes wiser brother,� not so much for what they have accomplished, but for who they are and who they have indicated they will be in the most important job that a man can have - that full-time, long term job of being a father.