We’re a team.

I was talking to a good friend of mine about all the annoying things you have to deal with when living with a man. It was the usual complaints about the lack of seeing any mess and the usual ‘I was just about to get that’ or the more popular ‘I’m going to do it later’.

Then I started talking about how much worse it gets once a baby comes along and how you kind of get used to this never ending mess. The viscous cycle of toys, nappies and random bits of food.

She then said something and it made me think. One of her friends had recently had a baby and had told her ‘he’s not the father I thought he would be’.  It made me think. A lot.

I guess none of us know the type of parent we will be. I certainly didn’t. I had a very good idea about the type of mum I would be and I did not live up to my expectations.

However, there wasn’t one part of me that was uncertain the type of father our daughter would have. And he has proved me right since the day she was born.

He has the kind of patience I wish I had. He has a constant sense of calm that I have never had. And in those first weeks after she was born, he was right by my side during those night feeds (more like never ending feeds) and changing her nappies (again never ending).

As the weeks turn to months we have a good system going. We’re a good team him and I. He does the clean up after dinner and I do bath times. 

Does he always ‘forget’ to clean the highchair? Absolutely yes. 

Does he always chuck the nappy anywhere besides in the nappy bin? Without fail. 

Does he make an incredible amount of mess or leave a trail of clothes behind him, when he does do bath time? Always. Every. Single. Time. 

And do I get annoyed? God yes! 

But hearing my friend say that reminded me he is an exceptional father. I probably don’t tell him enough.

Does he come in every single day with a smile a kiss for his girls? Absolutely yes. 

Does he have the most fun with her? Without fail 

Does our daughter save her biggest smiles and laughs just for him? Always.

So he doesn’t always hear her on the monitor (hardly ever), he can sleep through pretty much anything and he sometimes has a one track mind. That’s okay. Because he is exactly the type of father I thought he would be. And I wouldn’t be the mother I am without him right by my side, every single step of the way.

I can live with the constant mess (kind of), the hidden nappies and the left over dinners on the floor (as I’m sitting here I find a old piece of green beans).

None of it really matters. What matters is when exhaustion finally takes over and he knows I can’t do anymore. When he knows I just need a break to breathe. When he lets me eat my dinner with both hands. When he lets me buy another outfit for her. When he gets me out the house. When he calls me a super mum. That is all that matters. 

But most of all when he picks me up from weeks of broken sleep and 30 second showers. When he runs me a bath and tells me to stay in it. When he loves me even though its been days since I brushed my hair. And most importantly the way he loves our daughter.

So, I will try and not panic and maybe he can try to put the nappy in the nappy bin.

But that’s okay because were a good team.