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Romantic Dads
It's OK to be Sensitive and Strong By Laura Cone
Hilling says he wants his sons to grow up to be more involved with rearing children. By showing public affection, buying flowers and saying, "I love you" in front of their children, he communicates to his sons how to treat a woman.
"My wife and I have date night, and we let the boys know this is Mom and Dad's time," Hilling says. "It does not have to be something extravagant. One time I took her down to the beach and we ordered pizza and we brought our own wine."
Sherri Spraw of Wesley Chapel, Fla., loves it when her husband Andrew, a research chemist, makes her feel cherished by letting go of his serious fa栤e to talk baby talk or roll around on the floor and give the children "horsy rides." She appreciates his attention because she has a busy schedule as the owner of a maternity boutique and the mother of three children: Victoria, 4, Joshua, 2 and infant Jacob.
"Besides complimenting me, it makes me feel the best when he gets on the floor and his masculinity is totally set aside and [he] roughhouses with the kids, tickles them and tells them how much he loves them and reads books with them," says Spraw. "Its things his coworkers may never see. He is OK with that."
Spraw's husband always seems to be on his toes when it comes to being a positive role model for the children, who she believes begin to pick up on the subtle cues of how a man treats a woman, even when they are as young as toddlers. "Everything in our household is always hugs and kisses," says Spraw. "[My husband] dos all the bedroom routines, does the prayers with the kids at night. They know our house is a very loving house."
When it comes to setting an example as a romantic father, the best advice is something women hear all the time: Be a little selfish. It's hard to give to others if you have nothing left to give.
Spraw actually encourages her husband to take some time for himself before coming home. "He finds ways to wind down on his way home from work so when he comes through the door it's kiss the wife, sit down with the children [and] find out how their day was," she says.
