Dad Rules

September Dad is Michael!

I would like to nominate my husband Michael as Dad of the month. I work from home one day a week, while having the kids, which isn’t easy but my husband takes the children out with him at the weekends to keep them out my hair. A few weeks ago I had my first (and, I hope, only) migraine and spent a whole day in bed. He was uncomplaining and looked after our two children (aged 22 months and 3 years) for the day and I heard no tantrums or tears. He also has a magic effect on our son: if I put him to bed he gets straight back out and cries, whereas if my husband put him to bed, he just rolls over and shuts his eyes. He travels a lot and is often tired but rarely takes it out on the children (usually growls at me instead!).

However his star performance was as ‘birth coach’ for the births of both our children. He coaxed and bullied me into breathing and not pushing for 2 very long labours. The midwives said he could give lessons to other dads. Both times he was left holding the baby as I got whisked down off to the operating table shortly after giving birth. And after all that he has to go home and deal with all the flak and calling relatives/friends while I got looked after in hospital and learned how to survive with no sleep. What a star!

Hello to Jon in Cyprus, our new Dad O’July. Nominated by lovely wife Caroline because (in her words):

A) He would be mortified if he won because he is sooo humble about that sort of thing.
B) I have in the last five years completely filled his life with kids (Grace 5, Maddie 3 and ten months after Maddie Twin Boys Tom and Harvey -2. We have our own Creche and he has never once complained about childcare…he spends ages with them organising dens in the lounge, he did a 2 hour marching band session with them this week…he lets them do allsorts of things (that drive me crazy) without a murmer.
C) I am soooo excited about him reading your book it will inspire him no end. It is hard to think about all the reasons but the biggest would be because the children would want me to nominate him - With Ketchup!!!! Plus he is off to Afghanistan soon and i think the accolade of being Dad O’July would tickle him.

xx

PS Eagerly awaiting nominations for August Dad! Email me at dadrules@blueyonder.co.uk.

My Dad taught me how to play tennis and never once lost his temper, even though I would shout and stomp and hide tennis balls in my knickers. When he accompanied me on the piano at my violin exam, he was so nervous on my behalf that the examiner said “Mr Lankester, please remember that it is your daughter who is taking the exam, not you”. And here he is, looking like a 1970s funk dad.