If I Could Pause for a Moment, to tell my husband

If I Could Pause for a Moment, to tell my husband

Yesterday, my two-year-old daughter hurt herself a little while playing. I heard her screaming from my room. I ran to her. She was crying loudly, holding her hurt hand. And all she could say was, “Papa, papa, papa,” a hundred times over in her stumbled voice.

I soothed her, hugged her, and with a silent smile on my face, I realised what her father means to her. Though I wanted to be the one she would call in any pain, in that moment, I was so proud of my husband and the father he is.

From waking up early to spending extra time with his daughters, to hugging them all through the night. Feeding us the first bites and saving the last, best bites for us.

Surprising us with sweet somethings. Spending the last bit he has happily on us. Sacrificing his sleep, comfort, personal space, and so much more, keeping himself aside every single time.

If I could pause for a moment to tell him what he means to us, maybe I wouldn’t be able to put into words exactly how I feel. But he is the solace my daughters and I need.

He is the home we want to come home to.

He gives us wings and backs us up in every form.

Yesterday wasn’t just about our daughter getting hurt. It reminded me of the place her father holds in her heart.

And mine too.

We often celebrate the loud milestones but miss the quiet ones. The ordinary days where someone keeps choosing you without expecting applause.

If I could pause for a moment, I’d make sure he knows he isn’t just taking care of his family.

He is shaping our memories.

He is becoming our daughters’ safest place.

He is making our hearts smile.

May we be the ones to reciprocate the same as well.