Thursday, June 13, 2013

Special needs dads are so hot when...



Dear Special Needs Dads,

It's not that your muscles aren't impressive or your hair's no longer gloriously thick or your smile any less dazzling than it was when we first met (they are, it is, always will be). It's just that we moms find some other stuff just as hot, sometimes even more so!

You're SO hot when you drive our kids to speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy—really, any therapy.

You're SO hot when you patiently go over letters or numbers or spelling or math with them, again and again and again.

You're SO hot when you help them eat an ice-cream cone or enjoy a Slurpee because they can't yet do it on their own.

You're SO hot when you load photos onto the speech app or help program it.

You're SO hot when you load the dishwasher, too.

You're SO hot when you play T-ball, basketball or catch together, figuring out ways to make it work and make it fun.

You're even MORE hot when our kids finally grasp a ball or the concept behind a game and you get a huge look of pride on your face. 

You're SO hot when you latch up their foot braces.

You're SO hot when you give them a bath. 

You're SO hot when you massage their muscles so they're less stiff, do the ABA exercises, Google information on the Ketogenic diet and toss around sexy phrases like "I'll deal with the insurance company."

You're SO hot when you fall asleep next to them after you read them the bedtime story.

Did we mention you're SO hot when you load the dishwasher?

You're SO hot when you get all demanding at the IEP meeting.

You're SO hot when you remember to give the medication. 

You're SO hot because you do things other dads don't have to without complaining, you don't get to cry to friends the way we moms can but still hold it all together, you (mostly) keep your cool when strangers are rude or places are unaccommodating, you cheer our kids on constantly and tirelessly even if you regularly fall asleep on the couch at 9:30 p.m. and snore as we're trying to watch HGTV but we're not complaining (mostly), you make our kids giggle like nobody else can with your Daddy jokes, you comfort all of us with your big Daddy hugs, and you do whatever possible to enable our kids, empower them and help them have the best life possible.

Love you.

12 comments:

  1. I LOVE this post. A personal addition from our family would be: You're SO hot when you finger sweep our son who is learning how to eat and chew, finally! Too fun!

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  2. I love hearing that oh so sexy phrase "I'll deal with the insurance company!" Wow. That makes me swoon!!!

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  3. Hi Ellen,
    I just found your blog and want to tell you how much I enjoy it. I have 4 kids. My eldest daughter Alison is 18 and graduating high school tomorrow. My youngest daughter Alexandra is 16 and has Cri du Chat Syndrome ( aka 5p- syndrome). My sons Ben and Bryan are 13 years old and identical twins.

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  4. Yes yes yes! May I add a few?

    You're so hot when you help with homework. School was easy for me, but a struggle for you, so you're much more patient and understanding when it comes to teaching our son tips, tricks and adaptation methods.

    You're so hot when you tell people what a great mother I am, even when I'm not around, and I hear about your praise from someone later.

    You're so hot because you make it easy for me to go out of town on a business trip and not feel guilty. I know you won't miss a dosage or therapist appointment, and you'll handle all the daily routines without complaining.

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  5. Oh Ellen, you read my mind!!! thank you for putting it into words.

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  6. YES!!!

    I just posted this on my hubby's FB wall <3

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  7. Ellen! I love this so much! I feel like I need to tell Andrew he's so hot right now!

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  8. I SO agree. I was a single mom when I had my son with CP. Ten years later, I met my husband who willingly and without reservations CHOSE to be my son's father. My husband treats Collin with as much love and patience as he does the three children we have together. He's such an amazing role model to my children. And, oh yeah, is he ever HOT HOT HOT!

    I love your blog Ellen! It's a great part of my day, so thanks!!

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  9. I knew he was a good catch from the beginning but he is totally WAY more hot now!

    ...danielle

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  10. Happy Father's Day to all the special [needs] dads out there :)

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Thanks for sharing!