The Luckiest Man in the World

So, last night, Big Man and I were laying on the floor in the family room laughing like little kids. He was telling me about how he and Diddles (my son) had been laying pretty much the same way laughing at one another for about an hour. Now, if you can picture this scene, you would giggle, too, because my husband is a six-foot beast of a man with long dreadlocks. He looks like Mark Henry from WWE sans the unattractive man-o-tard. Very intimidating to most adults, but kids love him, for whatever reason.

Well, as we lay there discussing the day and what went down. He begins to tell me how he feels like the most "luckiest guy in the world." He is so proud of the relationship he has with his son. How Diddles loves him. How he would be so lost if anything ever happened to him. My husband is not one to reveal such tender things, but hearing him say those things made me feel like I was the luckiest wife in the world. I helped give him his son, this joy.

Look, I know this is too damn syrupy sweet for y'all, but it's hard to find a man so in love with his kid(s). Not to say they aren't out there. It's just some guys often times treat their love for their children on a peripheral level. It's that "yeah, I love my kids" mentality, but Daddy is clueless about Lil' Susie's goings on.

I see an almost different approach to Dad-dom from Big Man. He knows Diddles' favorite shows. He makes a point to learn the theme songs. He knows how Diddles likes to take his bottle. He's up early taking care of him, even when he's had a long night at work. He rolls on the ground with him. He tickles him till they are both out of breath from laughter.

What is most telling of all is how he carries Diddles around like the ultimate trophy - and how people notice right off the bat.

Grandpa Dede (Big Man's dad) gets a big kick out of watching his son and grandson roll about like two kids. He is simply amazed by how much love his son shows to his grandson - and is so touched by it. Sometimes he even gets into the action. Carefully, though, since Dede is 85. Even Papai (Diddles maternal grandfather) gets a good laugh when Diddles does a spot-on impersonation of Big Man on the phone talking to hockey folks. He gabs, he laughs and then, Diddles tries to put the phone in the side pocket of his imaginary sweatpants like Big Man does. OMG, I remember one day when he got a hold of Big Man's earpiece and put it on. It was hysterical.

You can even see just the exchange between them in the eyes and how they look and watch each other. When that 5 o'clock hour hits at Mamai and Papai's, Diddles is so happy to see Big Man he can't control himself. If he knew how to back flip he would. The squeal and giggles are endless.

As I watch Big Man reveal all of this to me, my heart swells just a little more. Even though we have rough days and can be snippy and curt, and the bills pile up, it's moments like this one that remind me I've got something good and I've helped make Big Man feel like the Luckiest Man in the World. Pray for me, y'all.