fatherhood Archives - The Ten Thousand Hour Mama

Father’s Day: 10 reasons why my husband is an amazing dad

June 18, 2015catherinemryan

About a month ago, I ~~tooted my own horn~~ spoke the truth about how I am a really, really good mother. Well, the same goes for Eric, my forever person and father to our wonderful Peeper and Kiwi.

I know him well enough to be fairly certain that he’ll feel all embarrassed by this post (just as he was extremely awkward when I shared with the world that he’d been awarded the educator of the week—something especially noteworthy, I think, because he teaches special ed and this is his first year as full-time teacher. Heck yeah, I’m proud!). But he can just deal, because I’m going to sing his praises anyway!

Ten ways Eric is a wonderful father barely scratches the surface, but these reasons give a glimpse into how lucky our family is to have him. I couldn’t ask for a better partner in the crazy and rewarding whirlwind of parenthood.

Happy Father’s Day, my love. Read more →

Nature painting: Process art for kids

March 31, 2015May 5, 2017catherinemryan

Lately, Peeper is fascinated by combining complementary things. “Together!” she cries, popping a bite of cheese and hot dog into her mouth, or “Pomegranate on top!” while balancing a seed on a forkful of peas and tofu.

Her enthusiasm makes me think of the scene in Ratatouille when Remy discovers how two tastes together can pop like fireworks or melt together for a transcendent out-of-body experience.

The other day, I followed her lead. Peeper loves art, and she loves the outdoors. So voila: nature painting!

A Father’s Day reflection from Peeper’s papa

June 17, 2014catherinemryan

Hi all, this is Eric Franklin Gregory, husband to Catherine and papa to Peeper. This weekend was my first Father’s Day and this is my first blog post. Here goes…

One of my favorite moments of the day is bringing Peeper into our bedroom where Catherine is catching a few extra sleeps. Catherine rolls over and smiles and says hello and good morning, and Peeper smiles, breathes out through her nose over and over and lunges out of my arms toward her mom. It’s the same display of joy every time she sees her mom.

The other day I was watching Catherine and Peeper interact so naturally in a supportive, mutually enriching, wordless relationship. A typical day for my wife (her mother helps out a ton, but when she is not around, this is what Catherine does): Feeds, clothes, changes diapers, cleans up after, watches Peeper take the DVDs out of the box for countless hours, makes sure she doesn’t eat something bad, does laundry, dishes, feeds and walks the dog, might go shopping, rocks and nurses Peeper to sleep for two naps and night bedtime every day.

I work most days and have grad school two to three times a week so cannot be home as much as I would like. Catherine runs the home show and finds a way to always greet me with a smile when I come home. She reads Peeper books all day, sings songs when she is upset or getting sleepy, gives her alternatives to biting that are more suggestion that command. She is a wonderful model of kindness, compassion, patience, and cleverness. She is clever with a tune, clever with the lunch and dinner menus. She meets cries with a song or gentle breath of air onto Peeper’s face. Read more →

The most Oregon-y Father’s Day

June 16, 2014catherinemryan

We celebrated Father’s Day in full Oregon style.

We began with a hike to Old Salmon River Trail outside Welches. The path was an easy grade along the river, which Peeper loved. She was fascinated and couldn’t tear her eyes away. Her finger got quite a workout as she pointed at it for, oh, the entire hike.

We walked through the old growth forest and marveled at the enormous trees. As the rain came down harder, though, we zipped through uncovered stretches (“quick feet, quick feet!” Eric would say, echoing what he tells his students when they have to hurry through the halls).

The trees didn’t offer quite as much cover as we’d anticipated, and the 10-30% chance of rain turned into more of a 100% situation, so we had to turn back earlier than we’d anticipated.

Father’s Day 2 – for the new dad

June 16, 2013catherinemryan

Eric, my love,

You’re already a great dad. I love how you bend over and talk to Peeper with your mouth next to my belly. You don’t tease (too much) when cutting up the umpteenth slab of watermelon because it’s the only thing I can stomach. You get the nursery arranged in record time and help me roll over in bed.

Most of all, you’ve loved our Peeper from the time it was just a poppyseed. You believed in us, in our fitness to be parents—in the audacity of growing our family by one. This child already has a head start because of your love.

I can’t wait for both of us to meet our peanut. Will Peeper have your eyes or that perfect indentation next to your smile? Later, will he or she share your fearless daredevil spirit and rush to climb fences and dangle legs over the Grand Canyon, like you do? Will Peeper love all-night debates, philosophy and delving into histories of what came before? I’m pretty sure that by inheriting genes from each of us, Peeper will be a long-armed, flat-butted little monkey. No escaping that one.

I can’t imagine having a better partner in parenthood. Together, we’ll change diapers at 4 a.m. and bandage scraped knees and wait through tantrums about vegetables and read the same nursery rhymes until we can recite them by memory. Peeper will grow up holding both our hands. I can see our bambino standing between us, wobbly-legged but secure with our support.

So on this, your first (unofficial) Father’s Day, thank you for already being there for our family. We love you.