Ever since you had your first child, you’ve been reading a lot of articles about unfit fathers. You know, the ones who leave their dirty socks lying around on the floor. The ones who play video games and almost forget about their child. The ones who don’t get up at night because they’re tired. The ones who don’t take care of their wives.
Well, you don't recognize your boyfriend in those texts. No. Because you found the jackpot. You're the one with that rare gem.
Your boyfriend has been taking care of you ever since the first day of your pregnancy. When you were throwing up your guts because the baby was making its nest, he was there for you. He cleaned the bathroom. He brought you clean washcloths, a glass of water, and your Diclectin. He came with you to your checkups as often as possible. He was there for the ultrasounds. When your belly got big and you had back pain and legs as swollen as an elephant’s, he massaged you. At 8 months pregnant, he often told you how beautiful you were.
During your labor, he massaged you. He breathed with you. He supported you. When the baby was born, he told you how proud he was of you. He changed diapers. He helped you nurse the baby—more than once.
He gets up at night to change the baby’s diaper. He brings you a glass of water when you’re breastfeeding. When you cry, he listens to you and supports you. He often tells you that you’re beautiful. If you’re tired, he lets you take a nice, hot bath in peace while he takes care of the kids. Sometimes, he lets you have Saturday afternoons to yourself off and he leaves with the children. He often plays with them.
He picks up after himself. He folds laundry. He washes dishes. He does homework. Sometimes he cooks. He runs the vacuum cleaner and mops the floor. He makes the beds. He makes appointments. He gives baths. He participates in activities at the older child’s school or at the younger child’s daycare.
He's dating you. He makes you laugh.
Sometimes he doesn't load the dishwasher the way you'd like him to. Sometimes he drops potato chip crumbs all over the living room. But you know what? That's okay. Because he does what matters most to you and your family. He's there for you, and he's loving. And that, my dear, is what we call the jackpot.