The Book
Written by Beth Kovarik, Pregnancy Resource Center Counselor
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“They grow up so fast.”
It’s a phrase we’ve all heard a hundred times. We do our best to capture the moments, but all too often time slips away and we’re left wondering where the years went. There’s always a hint of sadness when I hear a parent make this statement. A longing for yesterday.
As a parent myself, I have seen this feeling to be prevalent in moms and dads alike. Time gets away from us. Our children grow and change before our very eyes. And it all happens so fast, or at least it feels that way. It’s taken me some time to discover why this feeling has crept into my life. One of the reasons I’ve found is from being consumed with the details of parenting. The vegetables that need to be eaten, the lost shoe that needs to be found, the outgrown clothes that need to be put away, the batteries that need to be replaced, and on and on it goes. The list on any given day is endless.
It’s so easy to become focused on these mundane tasks. And when we do, the moments tick away before we even know they are gone. There have been times when I’m so intent on teaching, feeding, and cleaning that I lose sight of the big picture. The big picture that shows me there is more to life than eating vegetables and having a clean room. There is a relationship being formed. And there is a wonderful journey to be shared and enjoyed along the way.
The stories contained in Bradley’s adventures begin as light hearted and humorous. The one thing parents need the most is to laugh. But as you read on, you begin to see a broader picture being painted. Found within these pages, are the much needed reminders for us to take our eyes off the mundane tasks of parenting and focus on the more important things in life.
As a mother of two young children, I am always being given unsolicited advice. We’re all familiar with it. It’s that unwelcome advice that every parent who has a child older than yours feels compelled to give. In these moments I begin to wonder, do I look like I need that much help? Am I failing miserably here?
Then one day it happens. I find myself talking to a mother of a small child and in mid-sentence I realize I am THAT parent, the one dishing out brilliant ideas as if they came naturally to me. As if there haven’t been blood, sweat and tears along the way.
The book you hold in your hands candidly portrays the truth of parenting. It’s filled with honest stories of one man’s journey as a dad. Bradley’s sense of humor and humble approach to parenting is refreshing in a world with so many ‘know-it-alls’. There are many lessons that emerge from these pages. Among them are these simple truths.
Children teach us. If you are open to learning from your kids, your journey will be so much more enjoyable. Learning from our kids requires humility. Humility to recognize that maybe you don’t have all the answers and perhaps your child can teach you a thing or two. Ironically, those who are humble stand to gain the greatest knowledge.
Children refine us. Raising kids exposes our character like nothing else. They bring out the best and the worst in us, all at the same time. Facets of our character surface that we would rather keep hidden. But how will they ever be dealt with, and removed, if they remain concealed? There are also incredible moments when we didn’t know we had it in us to be so strong. These times are just as revealing.
Children transform us. Before having children I thought it would be my job to mold and shape their lives. I had no idea the extent to which they would mold and shape mine. They have changed me.
Bradley’s journey as a Stay At Home Dad is one of discovery and unconditional love. Discovery in the sense that there is much to learn as a parent. Unconditional love being the most valuable experience one can ever know. It is an adventure full of laughter and surprises, where the infinite love between a father and daughter are revealed.
We invite you to join the adventure!