Paul is in the very last days of writing his dissertation. He has to have it to his committee in less than two weeks. Needless to say he's been working very hard on it, quite preoccupied with it. Which is not at all to imply he is an absentee father and husband. In fact I am most proud him for his commitment to family through this process of working full-time and completing his degree and I love the example he's providing for our girls.
They know what he's doing. They know why it's important to him, to me, for us. They can see that we are trying to live according to our values: education, knowledge, commitment, family.
An example:
I am helping Paul by reading over his thesis and editing for consistency, grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc. I have very very little understanding of what I'm reading but, as the daughter of a man who was a career editor, writer, and college English teacher, I can certainly provide some copy-editing and style review. At breakfast Sunday, pen in hand, I was reading and marking up one of his chapters before he had to go to the office to work. Barrett was next to me at the dining room table, drawing.
"Is Daddy doing work for his graduation or for his work?" she asked.
"For his graduation."
"Are you helping him with his homework for his graduation?"
"Yes. I'm reading over his paper and making corrections."
After Paul left, Barrett started working busily on some papers. "I'm going to help Daddy with his homework, too." She asked me how to make a plus sign, an equals sign, and a few other details as she worked on page after page of "problems."
When she was done, she brought me a sheaf of papers. "Homework," she said, "for Daddy. To help with his graduation."
On each page she had a different set of problems: Which is the largest number, which is the smallest number, which picture is different from the rest, which shape is the rectangle, which shape is the circle, and a series of addition problems (100+130, 8+7, 200+50, and so on).
Then she proceeded to "help" him by circling the correct answers for him (except for the addition--she did just finish Kindergarten after all).
When he came home that evening she presented the papers to him proudly. "See, Daddy, I'm helping you with your homework. You can give these to Dr. Walker."
[Dr Walker is Paul's advisor. Barrett speaks for us all when she says "I know Dr. Walker. I never met him but I know him." After all, we have being hearing his name for several years.]
The whole thing was right out of Disney Central Casting.
And could not have been a more perfect demonstration of her support and love for her father.
From a distant mom-reader... it's nice to have your posts again.
Best,
Andrea
Posted by: andrea | Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 02:30 PM