Most of the days of the week our son wakes up Dad. Mom has to get to work early in the morning and the little one sometimes likes to sleep in until the sun starts trying to break curvature of the earth. Dad is normally already up and sitting at the computer reading and writing e-mails or reading a book by a light. There’s no secret that he’d love to wake up and be held by his mother but that isn’t possible most mornings. On the rare occasion he wakes up early enough to wish her well everything is fine but most mornings he sleeps in. While reading a book or typing an e-mail I hear the growing cry from the bedroom, set down my cup of tea, of head in to help our son prepare for the day.
In the beginning I was being a functional father. I would say good morning, give him a hug, promptly remove him from bed and change his diaper, and then start breakfast. I soon found out that this was not the best way for him to wake up. Over time I’ve realized that playing a game is a much better way to start the day. So I open the blinds, climb into bed with him, wait for him to wake up enough to give me a smile, and hide my face behind a pillow. “Where’s Daddy?” I ask this question over and over again. He stands himself up on the bed and wraps his little fingers around the pillow before peeling it back and giving me a big smile. The day is officially started. We play this game until he becomes interested in something on the floor (often a guitar) and then we go to change his diaper and make breakfast. Spending the day with my son helps me learn a lot about him. He needs more than food, clothing, and shelter. He needs fun.