My dad

Last week I must have caught some of the germs from Magnus, because I spent a few hours in my bed, and a few days wishing I was in my bed. And to top it off, Magnus is still waking up at night after he's been sick, and I am quite honestly tired.

And so today I have decided it was time to get him back into his normal sleeping rhythm. He really needs to get a good nights sleep, and so do I. So I was prepared to be tough - untill I went into the bedroom where I had tucked Magnus in two hours earlier, to find a tired, crying child with a cold!

A cold! Seriously!

He can hardly breathe through his nose, he is sniffling and quite unwell. And so I guess I can look forward to a few more nights of poor sleep, for the both of us.

It made me think of the night where I went to bed at 9 pm after spending two days helping my sister pack up all her belongings and move. I was exhausted, and all I wanted to do was sleep - preferably for a day or two.

Instead Magnus woke up with a sore stomach and spent the next 5 hours whining. I felt really sorry for him, but I also felt really sorry for myself!

I know this is a long lists of complaints, and all these things goes with the territory when you are a parent, but I actually have a point to this.

Because whenever I have a period where I get really exhausted and worn out, where the kids keep me awake at night, try my patience and so on, then I can't help but to think of my parents. I am filled with a deep gratitude for all that they have sacrificed for me, for the many sleepless night, early mornings, diapers changed, kisses given and backs stroked. I feel such love towards them for all that they have given me, because now I better understand the effort it takes.

The first few weeks after I had Samuel, I was in complete awe of my parents. Complete and utter awe!

I think my parents are amazing!

See, this guy here. That is my dad. Notice the tie. I am pretty sure it is characters from the "Far Side" cartoon. This picture is from his retirement party in November.

He worked at the court in Roskilde for more than 23 years. He loved his job, and I am pretty sure he did it with an excitement and a passion.

This is his retirement cake. It was tasty!

The president of the courts giving a speech about my dad. Strangely enough he was actually one of the judges in my department at the Copenhagen City Court, during my very short experience as a deputy judge.

My dad and Magnus listening to a speech given by my dads boss. She was also pretty impressed with him. Can't say I don't understand why.

 

And this lady here. She is a big fan of my dad, and for that I am a big fan of hers. Her talk made me cry, out of pride and joy that the man she was talking about was my dad. Because my dad is really a good man, a talented man, a kind man, an extremely helpful man and a very wise man.

He saved me more than once at school and at university. He helped me with latin, math (oh boy, did he ever), Danish essays and law. I remember him sitting out in our dining room working on a case, always making time for me if I had a question or even many questions.

He was the guy I called the day before one of my feared exams at law school. My brain had gone dead and I didn't understand a single word in the book. He came over, read the chapters and sat down and explained it for me, using teddybears to illustrate his points.


I always know that whatever happens then he is never more than a phone call away. When I went to Scotland to study, he told me to call if anything happened and he would help. And I know that he would. He would move heavens and earth for his kids, if we ever need anything.

Maybe these stories seem simple, but the heart and the love behind it is immense. I am so grateful that he is my dad, that he went to work every day for so many years, to provide for us, that he and my mother cared for us all through our life, that he taught me so many things - and still continues to teach me.


And now, if you will excuse me. I have a crying boy with a cold to cuddle ...