I Didn’t Know What Type of Man You’d Be

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When I married you, I knew what type of man you were. I knew who you’d be as a husband. I didn’t know what type of man you would become. How could I? We can’t really predict the future, even when we think we know how things will play out.

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I knew you’d be the type of man to leave his family and friends to move across the country with me so I could pursue my dreams and advance my career.

I knew you’d be the type of man who would leave his dirty cereal bowl next to the sink instead of in it every night. I sigh every morning when I scrub your crusty, dried cereal from the bowl.

I knew you’d be the type of man would take the dogs out in the freezing cold so I didn’t have to. I hate the winter, and you try to minimize my exposure to it so you don’t have to hear me complain.

I knew you’d be the type of man would leave his growing collection of shoes by the door, no matter how many times I ask you to please put them in the closet.

I knew you’d be the type of man would roll his eyes every time I’d take bites of his food after saying I didn’t want anything, but that you’d let me do it anyway.

I knew you’d be the type of man to always make me a cup of coffee and bring it to me in bed on the weekends so I could lounge and sip for a little longer.

I knew all of that.

You’re a great partner, and I chose you because I knew that you would be one. But I didn’t know who you’d become. So the fact that our little girls ended up with you as their father is pure, unplanned luck.

I didn’t know you’d be the type of man to have two little girls literally obsessed with you. “I wahn daddy…No, mama! I wahn DADDY!” They just can’t ever get enough time with you.

I didn’t know you’d be the type of man to have tea parties, cheers-ing with pink and purple plastic teacups while teetering your 6’4″ frame on miniature white chairs.

I didn’t know you’d be the type of man to pretend-burp little baby dolls and twirl around the living room with our girls while “Let It Go” was blasting on your phone.

I didn’t know you’d be the type of man to sit down on shaggy, purple pillows and in little cream tents and get coerced into reading five books before bedtime. “No, daddy…another one puh-ease.” You’re a real pushover when you’ve got two sets of big blue eyes looking into yours.

I didn’t know you’d be the type of man to get caught standing in front of the mirror with our girls, practicing them looking at their reflections and saying aloud:

“I am strong. I am smart. I am kind. I am happy.”

I didn’t know you’d be the type of man to be concerned about raising independent, motivated women and not “daddy’s little princesses.” You work so hard to find that fine balance between nurturing our daughters and developing strong women.

I didn’t know any of that.

Every day, you surprise me by the type of dad that you are. We’re the luckiest ladies in the world that you’re ours. Kids don’t get to pick their parents, and a lot of times, unfortunately, they wish they could choose someone else.

But I know our girls would choose you to be their daddy a million times over. I know it overwhelms you, but you are a girl-dad through and through, and you’re absolutely killing it.