Father to Son Relationships, or none existing relationships

This blog is to all the father's out there. This number is for you.

Zaq and Aiden, Aiden age 2

Zaq is an awesome dad. He plays with the kids when he finds time to. He totally promotes Aiden playing video games and hamming it up for his stream and camera all the time. For those of you that don't know Zaq streams video games and new games not yet released. So for those of you that don't watch Zaq's twitch channel Aiden will sit with his dad either a) on his lap, b) between his legs, standing or c) in a chair right next to him. Zaq plays a variety of different games all of which Aiden is eagerly engaged in watching and enjoying all the fun that comes with gaming.

Aiden age 3 enjoying his goliath action figure
Zaq got from the Evolve Developers for his help with their game

Zaq trying to game with both Aiden, age 3 and Layoni age 12 months

Aiden and Zaq, Aiden age 6 months

This relationship between father and son didn't come easily. For the first year of Aiden's life, Aiden hated, not just hated, but SERIOUSLY HATED Zaq. Anytime I would leave Aiden alone with Zaq, Aiden would know and begin screaming five minutes after I left. There was nothing, not a single thing that he could do to help calm Aiden. And at first Zaq felt bad and defeated because at that time when Aiden was first born I held a calling in our church helping run the primary program, which means dealing with more little children. So Zaq eventually gave up trying to please him and would just let him cry out until I returned home, I wised up and asked our family to help in this dilemma of helping Aiden not be so traumatized every time I would leave the house.

Aiden and Zaq, Aiden age 4. Solar Eclipse Day

Layoni and Zaq, Layoni age 9 months

Layoni was a little bit easier she was and always will be a daddy's girl. She's got him so wrapped around her little finger that she is allowed to snuggle him even after bed time. Especially if she's not feeling good. Recently we've been having to cut down on her dairy intake because she's been having a hard time pooping. But progressing on she's always been pretty mellow around Zaq so he wasn't that scared. Also I didn't leave the house as often with Layoni either. Although after having a second child it seemed Zaq had gotten a clue as to how to handle a child under the age of one.

Blue Lake Ward Relief Society Pot Luck Dinner

But flash forward to tonight's main event. I had a Relief Society activity to attend, pretty much just a fancy excuse to get out of the house and socialize something I don't do regularly, regularly I don't leave the house. So I conned Zaq into watching all three children at the same time in the same place for an hour and a half. Literally I left the house at 6:25 and was home by 8:10 so an hour and forty five minutes. Not an extreme request considering I'm at home with our children from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm by myself and I have to get up in the middle of the night when they wake because lets not fool ourselves Zaq is the breadwinner and needs as much sleep as possible, something I have honored since Aiden was born and Zaq was working two jobs to make sure that I didn't have to get a job.

Aiden, Zaq, and Alexander. Aiden age 5,
Alexander age 3 months

So I came home from my little excursion only to be told that Alexander has been crying for the last hour and a half. Dear God I hope the man was exaggerating. But the second I pick him up from his bouncy chair Alexander stops crying and is the happy content little baby he usually is, unless he's tired then he's a big ol hand full of ANGRY babiness. But Zaq has stated now that he's done getting tricked into baby sitting Alexander until Alexander can actually be chill with him. Which in the case of Alexander happens around the year or two year mark.

Alexander being held by Zaq, first smiles, age 1 month

I want men out in the universe to know that you're not alone. Men, although some men do have the gentle touch with babies called the baby whisper, don't do well with newborn babies. I think it's something in their mentality. Zaq just loses interest in babies, especially if they are crying. Zaq usual solution to babies crying is give them back to their parents, but what happens when you're the parent? Zaq will just put Alexander down in order to not lose his cool completely, because Zaq knows that Alexander is okay, he might be crying, but at least he's not getting angry in his arms.

And truly it's okay to put a baby down if they are crying, and even if they are not it's okay to put a baby down. Although my whole world revolves around these little tykes, and I rarely put them down, but I'm just a chill mom like that. That being said Alexander is reaching the age of "what's my brother or sister doing I want to follow them" or "Ohh mom, what's that toy down there, no not that, that one." so he's becoming a little more impatient with just the plain old sit and stare routine of his life.

Never feel inadequate as a parent. You're doing the best that you know how to do, everything just falls into place as it happens, but just like dory says from Finding Nemo, "Just keep swimming"

Damage report of the first time I left Aiden alone with Zaq

I had left the house for an hour. We also had Zaq's brother Hyrum living with us at the time of this incident. One little boy got into a marker and redecorated the walls, floor, counter, and dishwasher because two grown men were busy playing video games.

Guess who they made clean it up, Aiden

Damage report number two.

Aiden had seen me put on makeup before so he thought he would give it a try himself. This was all makeup done by himself. NO ONE was helping him put this make up on. Although that being said if this kid ever wanted a job in the make up industry this could be his opening image, because dang he looks like hes got a shiner.