As the father of a daughter and a son, plus the grandfather of four knucklehead boys (Hurricane, Tornado, Crash, and Train Wreck), I’ve learned some things about love, especially the parental kind.
All the hours logged as Dad and Poppy have caused me to contemplate how different are the roles of mother and father in the overt demonstration of parental love. But most fascinating is how the manifestation differs between mother and father – biologically, emotionally, and experientially.
A mother’s love, at once sweet and fierce, is observed in almost all animals, not just humans. No doubt you’ve heard the simile, “As sweet as a mother’s love,” and the warning, “Never get between a momma bear and her cub.” I’ve witnessed and have been the happy recipient of this kind of love, and there truly is no other force like it in nature.
A human father’s love, on the other hand, is more often associated with unfortunate references, like “tough” and “discipline.” Here’s a warning no one has ever heard: “Just wait ’till your mother gets home!” Consequently, it’s troubling that there are no corresponding sweet references to a father’s love. Could this be why Father’s Day is not quite as big a deal as Mother’s Day? Just saying …[Continue Reading]