Hearts of Fathers

The girls and I went to the park yesterday early afternoon. It was a new park to us, not far from where we're living now. Signs of the times surrounded us in many ways.

Upon arrival I scoped the scene, not an unusual thing to do as a Mom going into a new environment, five families represented plus mine. OK. Get layout of play structures, number of children, parents/guardians hovering about, amount of sand I will later be cleaning out of clothing and car. Check, check, check... and then... a strange sensation. I was one of only two mothers representing six families. There was one Grandmother. And then the sensation: fathers. Fathers on a week-day in the middle of the day in shorts with their kids at the park. There's nothing particularly strange about seeing a father with his child at the park, but... being a mother who frequents parks - you just DON'T see fathers as the majority that often. Years ago when Mateja was a toddler, we'd met a group of fathers who were part of a daddy's group. They stayed home with their kids while their wives went to the office day after day. Other than that Daddy's group I have never seen so many fathers out in force @ the community parks during the week. It's definitely a different dynamic. I like it. The kids like it too.

Before we left, another father showed up with his two kids. No other mothers came.

Turn the hearts of fathers to their children.