Full disclosure, my two older kids didn’t want much to do with me until they were about three or four-years-old. My wife did it all. She is a rockstar Mom. I was basically the buzzkill that went into their rooms when they cried in the middle of the night and told them “Go back to bed”.

Things are different with our nearly 23-month old. Now that I’m winging it as a stay-at-home Dad, I actually have a bond with my toddle. It’s great!

She walks around the kitchen and always checks in on me with a sweet “Hi Good Buddy”. It’s the greatest nickname I’ve ever had. Her hello is always followed by a hug and pat on my leg.

During breakfast when the older kids head upstairs to work on their school assignments, my toddler says “We visit”, then climbs into the chair right next to me and steals my food. I love watching her stare at my yogurt then say, “My need dat chopit chips”. Then I scoop out a spoonful of yogurt and chocolate chips, and feed her.

In the rare moments I am sitting by myself on the floor, she’ll run at me at full speed and tackle me to the ground. When I’m laying down helpless, she sticks out her arms and belly flops on my stomach. She then bounces on my stomach or comes ever so close to hitting me with a headbutt.

She calls for me in the morning when she wakes up. When she’s tired, we snuggle as she drifts off on her afternoon nap.

Being a winging it stay-at-home Dad has its challenges. But, I am so thankful I’ve had the opportunity to be home every day building a bond with my toddler daughter.