Guest Post: Aunie, From Aunie Sauce, on Fatherhood

photo credit: Infiltration: Jawa In Disguise via photopin (license)

My girls have the best mom for them.

I knew that early. You could see it. Motherhood was a calling for her, and so much that she did before becoming a mother indicated that: Her desire to make a career of being a mom, woman-upping for natural childbirth, advocating for minimal vaccines and a loving connection with our girls.

The strong, loving girls I get to coach today are a result of that.

My guest poster today has that look of rookie promise, too.

Welcome Aunie, who writes the blog Aunie Sauce. She’s a fantastic writer and lover of life who has all the makings of becoming an amazing mother. Her blog is chock full of style, faith, beauty, fitness, thoughts, and travel posts you’ll love.

Today, she’s here to write about an important dude in her life: Her father.

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Fatherhood. This is something I will never experience. Motherhood, sure… but never fatherhood. And I’m OK with that. Were I to be a father, I’d have big shoes to fill!

Let me introduce my dad—the one with the big shoes. He’s Norwegian, a successful businessman, and has such a giving heart. He would do anything for his kids. He taught me to mow a lawn (I only destroyed two sprinklers my first time), he taught me how to golf, and he was always on the sidelines of our high school and college football games, not cheering the players on, but cheering for me and my sister—the cheerleaders.  

He’s a pretty neat guy, and no—not just because I’m his daughter.

Just last month, that neat dad of mine got engaged. It’s so wonderful to see someone who you look up to and respect make one of the best decisions of his life. When you choose love, it’s just beautiful.

My dad always handled tough situations in life with grace. Moving his family all over the United States to accommodate his job? No problem (in fact, we grew to enjoy moving!). Getting through a divorce in one piece? Not quite as simple, but he did it never-the-less! Getting your kids through a divorce and still having them love and respect both their mother and their father? Now that’s the hardest one, and again, he did it. And not only are we closer to him now, but we couldn’t be happier for the new official (and beautiful) addition to our family in the form of his fiancè.

The idea of being a dad and managing so much on your shoulders is terrifying to me. But it’s so refreshing to grow up with a dad who protects you and does everything in his power to see you succeed. I may never have the chance to be a father, but thankfully I had the chance to have a father like mine. And hey, I have a husband who can’t wait to have kids… and thinking about all this makes me so excited to see the father that my husband will become. Don’t even get met started on thinking about what kind of mother I will become… yikes. Once again, big shoes to fill!

Are you a father? A mother? Any advice to a newlywed with kids on the brain? What did you learn from your father?

Annelise writes at Aunie Sauce: a blog about daily life, personal style, fitness, beauty, and faith. She’s training for her first marathon, and is a newlywed to a man who someday will make an amazing father. But until that “someday” arrives, she won’t have any idea of what being a parent is all about! So until then, she’ll keep on learning from her dad… and of course, Coach Daddy. Find her here: Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube.