The Art of Being a Daddy.
Happy Father’s Day to all fathers and father-figure persons! With them, your world can be more practical, industrial, methodological, scholarly, and scientific.
My life is definitely richer as a mom, but is filthy rich with Sean by my side being such a sweet daddy to Keira. It is a blessing that I keep on counting. I have always loved being around kids. In my younger days, when I used to teach kids ballet, I knew I would always love to be able to teach my own child about life around them (of course, with a lot of ballet, if all possible). I love teaching Keira everything she needs to know (yes, including ballet, hooray!). So I am blessed Keira has a daddy who teaches her other things that I am not good at. I love watching Sean teach Keira every other thing she needs to know. Like science. Cars. Rockets. Singing. Music. Practical life. Montessori.
Sean looked incredibly 100 times sweeter when he said, “Let’s have our two kids now”, over coffee one morning, on one Christmas day, on a Virgin America plane ride to visit our dear friends in NYC, about two months after our wedding. Well, Virgin America did not witness any further action other than a kiss that made me feel like a virgin, if you were wondering. We waited till we got back to our own town after the whole New Year’s and friendship celebrations with endless alcoholic intake. But that morning, the world seemed as delirious as I was. I was on cloud nine. Literally, I guess, since we were on the plane. Then not long after that, Daddy Sean was also “born” along with baby Keira. He had bought a special nice camera so he could take nice pictures of his first born. He had read all the pregnancy books along with me. He never left his eyes off of the newborn Keira and followed her all the way from the C-section room to the nursery. He stayed there for a good hour, while I was in the recovery room, to watch Keira being bathed for the first time and took about fifty pictures of just Keira’s little newborn hands. He has been such an endearing daddy ever since…
Sean is 10 times better than I ever dreamed of in a husband, a partner, a bestfriend, and a father to our child. He is the complete opposite of his bubbly wife, in every way. He is so perfect for me. He is the most reasonable and most patient (and smartest) man I have ever known that actually resembles a lot of my own dad. (You might need an air bag after reading this). But I do find amazing and comforting traits that my dad has in Sean. Those traits alone make our lives as partners and parents so much easier. In our parenting world, we are always on the same page. Seriously. Always.We are somewhat traditional and so-called ‘by the book’ parents. We want to do everything right for Keira. At least, we try to. Of course, right? Since we are also considered new parents, we think we can do all the ‘by the book’ things and advice. In reality, of course, there are things we have to accept that we need to do that involves bending a rule or two. Or three. But usually the saying “whatever that works” happens as the last resort, after other methods have failed. Just like what many other parents want, we always want to do the right thing and do things right. But of course, we’re not perfect. Sean is such a reasonable person, which makes him a reasonable husband and daddy. We care for the same values and standards. We are definitely not a “Tiger Dad” or a “Tiger Mom”, we are just “Copy Cats”. We like to copy our role models: our parents, the more experienced parents that we know (and like), and from the books or “bibles” we read. From the moment we found out we were pregnant, we have always read the same books – literally always on the same page of each one of these: What to Expect When You’re Pregnant, What to Expect the First Year, and What to Expect the Toddler Years. What to expect the marriage years. Just kidding! Ignore the last one.
Daddy never misses a beat! He captured Keira’s first yoga:
I feel safe when I can see, at least, by theory, what is expected of what I am going through. And I found my perfect match: Sean. He is predictable, therefore easy to live with. The little things I care about in raising a child (or growing a baby) he cares about them, too. Sean is so transparent, which makes me feel so safe when I am around him. Sean absolutely brings the best in me as a person and a mom by being a father who always cares for the little details. His consistency and passion in doing the research and reading on all things that we go through or what he will get is so awesome! His gentleness, fondness, warmth and analytical-being comforts his little family. I feel sheltered and peaceful whenever he’s around. Life is easier. The getting ready to go somewhere is faster when Sean is around. I tend to remember things to pack more when Sean is coming with us to go somewhere. We get out of the car faster. We run errands more efficiently with the daddy driving us and staying with the baby in the car. I get to do my hair and make up to the fullest when the daddy is home and plays with Keira. I get at least 7 emails everyday from the daddy just to check in with us. We get to see Tangled with Rapunzel looks like she almost jumps out of the movie on this 100-inch projector screen that we have because daddy loves having a nice home theatre. We get to see the Nutcracker as a family every year because daddy wants to make it a tradition. “Not to worry, sweeties”, “I’m on my way home”, and “I love you, babies” are our favorite words from Daddy Sean. Daddy makes Keira’s life easy. For that, he needs to have Father’s Day practically everyday. For forever!
He needs to have a ribbon like this.
So, what’s not to celebrate on the real Father’s Day! Mr. McM is a car lover. Especially when it comes to European cars. So we went to see the Concours d’Elegance show on Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills. Besides, he’s got a wife who loves these vintage cars. Not all vintage cars, though. Vintage Italian cars only, please. I love the 50′s and 60′s Italian cars. It was Sean’s and my dad’s day but I got to enjoy it along with them. Perfect!
The Happy Duo on Father’s Day
The McManus Girls on Father’s Day
Vintage Fiat
Ferrari Lovers
Two Men and a Lady
Daddy loves the beach. So we topped our special day with a slight detour to Manhattan Beach on our way home to the marina…where Keira got to play with her favorite things (besides her Princess dolls): the beach and daddy.
I used to love being on my dad’s shoulders like this…Keira, please don’t grow too fast. Daddy loves having you up there…
We wanted the day to last. We watched the sun set and sky turn gray. A sail boat passed by. It reminded me about Daddy Sean’s dream to have a boat one day. Next to a Ferrari. A nice house. And a new camera lens. Maybe on the next Father’s Day, we can get you one of them, Daddy. But no matter life takes us, as long as you are with us on this family boat, we can sail this life together merrily.
With love to Mr. McM and with pride to all the daddies in the universe,
Mrs. McM.
P.S: I had the urge to pose. This could be the latest picture of me on Sean’s desk at his office, wouldn’t you think? 
