Let me tell you about the guy I married. I have known him for 24 years. I liked him and respected him long before I loved him. No one can make me laugh like he does. No one knows me like he does. No one accepts me like he does. He’s my Baby Daddy.

My Dad was not a presence in my life and while my Mom (very special) was more than enough and I’ve never felt that I suffered, I think a present and loving Dad is what every kid deserves. My kids got one. And I can see in the eyes of my kids how crucial my husband is to them. And so while I think you can certainly do without a selfish, abusive or emotionally absent Dad, there is no substitution for a good one, not even a Mommy.

I’m here. Every day. Leading. Guiding. Hugging. Kissing. All day long. He walks in and I become secondary. It never bothers me to be back burnered for their Dad. Their devotion to him says to me, loud and clear, we need both of you. His gentle nature, his purest adoration for our kids. I can never compete with what he brings to their lives. They get to have it all. Not perfect. But always trying and completely in love with both of them. Francie will be a lucky girl if she sees how her Dad treats me and picks someone like him. She will need to pick someone tolerant, patient and flexible like her Daddy. She and I have that in common. And Soren is lucky to have inherited his Dad’s sense of humor and softness and I hope, based on the example being set for him, he will treat his wife with as much love as I’m treated with. Marriage, much less marriage with kids is a three ring circus. The question is, who do you want to be in the ring, taming the wild elephants with? My answer? Paul Svenkerud.

The point is, they’re blessed with an awesome Dad. I don’t always say it but I think it all the time…so my bad. I talk incessantly so with all that talking, I could say it more often. Happy Father’s Day, Baby! We are so lucky to have you.