It isn’t very often the better halves of the RMF team get to take to these pages but today I am handing the mantle over to my lovely husband Edd. Given that this weekend is Father’s Day it seemed only fair to let him have his say on Fatherhood and give you a bit of an insight in to his favourite things about being Daddy to Molly and Alice.

I’m not really used to putting my thoughts to paper nor have any blogging experience so please bear with me! I could write about all the sentimental mush that being a dad means. You know, like how it gives me a purpose in life or how they are the first thing I think about when I wake up (normally as they are jumping on me!) but I’m guessing you have read all of that before. Instead I thought I would write about the fun side of being a Dad. The bits I love most because really THAT is what’s important to me.

As Lottie will attest I am a big kid at heart. Always have been. She has tried rather hard to suppress it over the years but finally with the arrival of Molly, and then Alice, I now have two pint sized outlets and she has no choice but to accept it. Yes she will still moan about it but we wouldn’t have any fun if I listened to that.

Our play time really could be summarised as a life in swings (and now roundabouts). Ever since the girls were little I have loved our trips to the park or playing in the garden on the swings. I’ve turned them into little adrenaline junkies, they aren’t scared of anything and I love that, although I am a little terrified about what I’ve created. I can push them super high (much to Lottie’s horror and constant whinging, she has never understood centrifugal force) and can’t quite believe their cries of ‘higher Daddy” or ‘faster Daddy’ as I spin them on the roundabouts. I will admit that sometimes I may be slightly over zealous with the spinning and there have been a few throwing up incidents but they immediately ask to go again!

Although the girls are still quite small they/we have amassed a collection of Lego to be proud of. Yes a big part of it is I enjoy making lego, however they love our rainy day Lego sessions and now I no longer need to pretend it is for me because they really do need a Millennium Falcon (I/we hope to get one for Fathers day or there will be a disappointed daddy/girls). It’s such a fun way to spend a few hours with Molly building a new set and Alice enjoys playing clumsily (read destroying) with it. Whenever it’s a rainy weekend Molly proudly announces ‘It’s a Lego day Daddy’ and we get to sit together making and building. It’s ace. I also love that Molly is starting to become more creative and makes cars and houses herself (always pink and princesses and I am helpless) and Alice joins in with her Duplo blocks. It definitely fuels their imagination.

I also get to sit around and watch cartoons and kids films with a genuine reason. The girls have become huge Totoro fans after I encouraged/forced them to watch my favourite Studio Ghibli films. My weird tastes finally have an audience, but I have had to learn that some things perhaps aren’t suitable for them yet. Labrynth, for example, may not have been the best thing for me to let a 4 year old watch (they are now scared of goblins who steal babies, not David Bowie’s hair).

I encourage the girls to have fun and be silly. Tickles and giggles are essential. So is a lot of chasing, tipping upside down and general playing around. I am probably the only Dad who loves going to soft play. Definite big kid as we tear around and have play fights in the ball pools. I wish soft play had been around when I was a kid.

Teaching them to appreciate nature is really important to me. I have always loved flowers and plants. Something that I learnt from my Dad and Granddad. Molly loves knowing the names of the flowers and helping me in the garden. It’s so nice to be able to pass on the same skills my Dad taught me. I’ve tried really hard to stop them being scared of any creepy crawly (no chance with spiders unfortunately), but Molly thinks nothing of picking up a worm and carrying him around, and into the house much to Lottie’s disgust.

These are the things that mean the world to me. My two little girls and being able to enjoy all these simple and special moments with them. My job is high pressured, serious and not somewhere that allows for a fun environment so these things are even more important to me. Being able to goof around with the girls and blow off steam isn’t just for fun, it’s a necessity which brings a balance to me and our family. I love being able to be like that with them. And one day they won’t ask me to play anymore so I intend to make the most of every moment whilst they do.

This is a sponsored post.

Boden Clothing:
Edd wears washed T-shirt in satsuma and blue.
Molly wears Dungaree Dress in Daffodil and super soft pointelle t-shirt in carnation stripe.
Alice wears Applique Dress and Leggings Set in Farmyard Print