by Andrea S. Moore
Watching my daughter interact with her Daddy is inspiring. While I will forever claim that she is a complete Mommy’s girl, I will admit that she loves her Daddy just as much as I do.
Recently I took the opportunity to take note of how attentive and affectionate my daughter is towards her father. When she caught me smiling at her she responded with a sheepish smile that seemed to say, “Take notes from the master.”
Undeniably my husband is smitten with his daughter, because, well, she’s his daughter. However, something gives me the sinking feeling that he’d be more than taken with me if I were to take cues from our toddler.
Here’s some wonderful relationship advice from the mouth and actions of a babe. She’s a genius, or maybe just an actress.
Either way, she gets results:
1. Hubby crosses the threshold, daughter beeline towards the door all smiles and excitement yelling, “Daddy! Hiiii Daddy!” – While I think it might be overkill to run towards the door jumping up and down, clapping and declaring, “Honey. You’re home,” I’ll take a tip from my mini relationship guru. Tip: Demonstrate excitement of his presence with a smile, a hug, and a kiss.
2. Sitting in the living room all three of us busy with our various activities. Unexpectedly my daughter breaks the silence and sincerely asks, “Daddy? How you doin’?” Tip: Impromptu sincerity goes a long way and leaves a lasting impression.
3. When in public my daughter instinctively grabs hold of our hands. She partially does this out of habit but also because she likes to. With her hand in mine she’ll still look for her Daddy to ask that he too hold her hand. Tip: Make him feel he’s needed to move forward. Without his hand in yours going alone just doesn’t feel as good.
4. “I’m a princess. Daddy you’re a super hero.” This child of mine puts me to shame! When hubby has two ladies in the house, one who thinks of him as a super hero and the other who…let’s suffice it to say the other lady isn’t quite thinking super hero status, one of us will be the favorite. To save what little face I have left it would behoove me to step my game up. Tip: Make it a point to tell him he is special. Stroke his ego and encourage him to reach his full potential be it an entrepreneur or a real life super hero!
5. If you are raising or have ever raised a toddler then you know that there is a “mine” phase. My daughter isn’t suffering too badly from the “mine” syndrome but she has certainly applied some of her possessiveness to those she cares about – namely Mommy and Daddy. In following through with some tips of my own I happened to be rubbing on the smooth sexy caramel that is my husbands face when my daughter chastised me with a wagging finger. “Nooo. Don’t touch my Daddy’s face!” She is fiercely protective and has clearly adhered to Mommy’s warnings against allowing her daycare buddies to touch her face. Tip: Claim him as yours in public and in private. In this context “claiming him” does not mean strolling the streets eyeballing random women informing them that he’s your man. Instead this tip is to encourage you to make him feel secure in your love and recognition of him as your man. My daughter claims her daddy as hers both verbally and non-verbally. (So wise this little one.) Be protective of your honey. Yes, he’s a super hero but it goes without saying that women are the tried and true owners of super natural powers capable of all things.
What have your children taught you about being a better partner?
Andrea S. Moore is a freelance writer, wife, and mother of one amazing child. She can be found at www.Be-Quoted.com where she frequently blogs about self-acceptance and self-esteem, education, marriage and relationships, humor, healthcare, and “all things worthy of being repeated.”