My four year old came charging breathlessly right past me, then turned back just long enough to find out when his dad would be home. He was brandishing a picture that he drew for his dad and after learning that he had to wait for about two more hours; he flung himself in a chair and seemed to muster all the decorum in his little being to suspend his picture presentation for two more hours, whatever that was.
All this excitement excited in me a "what about me" curiosity that I was hopelessly unable to govern, so I asked the little fellow if I should at least see the picture. I was told in no uncertain terms that the picture was daddy's and he was careful to inform me that maybe he would draw me a picture sometime in the definitely vague future.
The bludgeoning blow of slight had not fully decimated in me a weakness for pictures, as I was sure one of his sisters would bring me a picture with just as much animation. I was nursing my offended heart when his two sisters came down, animated alright, waving their artistic tokens to their dad at what point I nearly lost it. I couldn’t help thinking that the man already had too many pictures on his wall and I did not even have a wall. One might be unable to resist the urge to claim a wall if one has enough pictures to hang on the wall. "These kids treat their dad like he is "all that", I mused, and fell to thinking of what he had been to me that would merit me drawing him a picture.
The three children sat around as if to wait for their dad displaying a pensive impatience for a few minutes and soon I heard one of them triumphantly declare: "hey guys, instead of waiting for daddy, let's just go and draw him another picture!" Then they all again rushed past me to my printer, helped themselves to more of my paper on their way up to draw "him" some more pictures.
Today, I thought I should remind me, and others like me, who have been blessed beyond measure with a friend whose children forget that you too, just like your husband, could use a picture once in a while; or maybe you too should draw a picture once in a while.
If you don't have to discuss the hourly wage when you rush to the library
If he calls after the fact and says he is sorry
If he lets you roll your eyes at your demanding toddler with impunity
If you think that the household bills just get paid magically
If he replaces the blender that you broke with a better one, you are the lucky one.
If you have a glazed look at the gauges in your car
If you never stop at a gas station
If he smiles when your eyes meet 93% of the time
If he takes the children grocery shopping and keeps them away for six hours
If you never panic when something breaks around the house, you are the lucky one.
If he always comes home at the end of every day
If the real reason he has unlimited minutes on his cell is to call you
If he has turned your cell phone into his personal twitter page
If you have an idea but don’t reeealy know how the lawn mower works
If he brings take-out to give you a break, you are the lucky one.
If you've never signed a pre-nup
If you are never afraid that he will leave you
If he has never asked you what you intend to do about that pregnancy
If he is your best friend
Then maybe the children are wiser than you are, maybe you are the lucky one.
Maybe he is just "all that".
I have not yet thrown myself on the sword to draw the picture since my brother insists I am no artist. I am sure however, that on the occasion that my children and I ever happen to be comparing pictures whilst twiddling our thumbs as we await their dad’s return, I am quite sure one of my children will make some small talk that goes something like this: “ Isn’t dad the best?” to which the other child will undoubtedly reply, “I know, he stands alone.”
