Daddy of Girls

I wanted to share a conversation Hubby and I had this morning so y'all can get a glimpse as to why I love this husband of mine so much.

As Hubby was getting ready to go mow our lawn I told him he ought to take #1 and start teaching her how to mow the lawn.  I never grew up mowing our lawn when I was a kid, but then I had four brothers as well.  Now, I'm all for the "traditional" roles of men and women when it comes to what the Bible says our roles should be, but as for "the men should take out the trash and mow the lawn while the woman cooks and does laundry" mentality, neither hubby or I think that way.  Not that I'm not happy to have him mow the lawn while I do the laundry, but we do it because that's what we've decided works best, not because anyone else thinks that's how we should do things. 

So imagine my surprise when Hubby answers me by saying that he doesn't need his girls to mow the lawn for him.  I laughed and told him that even if he didn't need the help it would probably be a good life skill for them to have. 

At which point he comes back into the room he had just left to put his shoes on and told me that if his daughters have husbands who won't mow their own lawn then they (he and said husbands) were going to have problems. 

I laughed again and said that I was talking more about if our girls were ever out on their own and had their own lawn to mow.  To which he raised his eyebrows and said that that is when they would call their Daddy to come mow the lawn for them. 

That, ladies and gentlemen, is a Daddy of girls in a nutshell.  And now I'm off to eat dinner cooked by Hubby and #2.  He mows and cooks!  I'm proud that he's all mine!

Yes Garu!

In India, the term "Garu" is a term of respect.  If I understood correctly it would be our equivalent to "sir" or "ma'am".  Brother and Sister informed us that you would use it for anyone who was older than you, using it for both males and females.  In fact, Sister informed me that before they accept a child into their CRF home, the children must agree to call Brother "Big Daddy Garu".  In their language of course. 

So why the language lesson?  Because Brother and Sister spent almost the entire time they were here trying to get me to call Hubby "Garu."  I don't think they were doing it because they thought I was disrespectful of Hubby, but just because in their culture, respect is shown differently.  Sister always made sure and served Hubby if we were eating here at the house first.  She always made his chai, twice a day.  While I consider myself to be respectful of my husband, more often than not he serves me my dinner before himself while I'm cutting up #4's food.  Just a difference in cultures.

But this whole process of trying to get me to call Hubby Garu was funny.  They insisted that another sister we all know here in the States calls her husband Garu several times a day.  And she even bows when she says it.  Please understand, I know this sister.  If she is calling her husband Garu, she does it dripping with sarcasm!  She is also very respectful of her husband by American standards, but there is no way she calls him Garu seriously. 

So by about Saturday I started calling Hubby Garu just to get a laugh out of everyone.  And we all laughed every time I said it.  To Brother and Sister's credit, whenever I would say it one of them would remind Hubby to say "Thank you Sister!" to show that he returned the respect to me. 

Was I glad for this glimpse into India culture?  Sure!  Do I feel better prepared should I ever go to India for what they would expect of my treatment of my husband?  Absolutely!  Will you catch me calling Hubby Garu in anything other than a joking manner?  Not going to happen! 

The best line ever said by a 6 year old!

#3, who is 6, said the best thing I have ever heard any of my children say today.  I might argue that it is the funniest any 6 year old has ever said, but I might also be a little prejudiced!

I was working on the girls' hair today and #3 grabbed the water bottle and sprayed Hubby in the face with it.  I had just done it a second ago so she thought she would copy me.  Being a good Daddy, he just laughed at her.  Until I was working on her hair and she couldn't see him.  He grabbed the water bottle and proceeded to spray her in the face.  Their conversation follows.  When you read her lines picture a cute, innocent little 6 year old, with curly hair who is missing her two front teeth!

Hubby sprays water...

 #3:     Ahhhh, DADDY!!!!!!

Hubby:   You sprayed me so I get to spray you.  And you can't complain about it.

#3:      Do no repay evil for evil.

Please tell me you're laughing.  Because I couldn't breathe for like 5 minutes because I was laughing so hard.  First of all, I don't think he'll be telling her any time soon that she isn't paying enough attention in church.  Secondly, if that wasn't the answer of a preacher's kid, I don't know what would be!