A Mother’s Day Tribute

As I write this, I’m sitting on the floor in JFK airport.  Oddly enough, I’m not traveling anywhere. I’m here to pick up my father in-law Anthony Guiglotto.  I’m happy to hang out at the airport to wait for him.  He’s a supremely good guy, and I love him. Since the first moment I met him he’s welcomed me into his family (I started dating his daughter 7 years ago this past weekend).

While the title of my post is “A Mother’s Day Tribute” I thought it important to set the scene as I write.   I was sitting here scratching my head trying to think about what to write about, and I began to think about how lucky I am.  I have the most amazing family, and life is truly good.  I’m blessed.  I’m sitting here doing work I love, waiting for a man who raised my amazing wife.  He’s on his way into town because he made a promise to my 3 year old daughter.  The last time he saw her, he promised her that he’d be at her birthday party (which is this Saturday).  He was in California visiting his son (who’s fiance’ just gave birth to twins).  He dropped everything and decided to fly across the country for a 3 year old.  She may or may not ever remember this gesture, but I won’t soon forget it. The reason I mention it, is because my father in law and his wife are amazing. They raised three amazing kids. I’m lucky enough to call their youngest (Laura) my wife. Which brings me to the point of this post.

My wife (and her family) are phenomenal. They do things like fly across the country for a  three year old. They write cards, they tell you how much they love you.  They give. They are selfless. My mother in law stayed with us for a month after my second (Olivia) was born, and now she’s in California doing the same for her son and future daughter in law.  Like I said, they’re phenomenal.

So why is this important?  Because my wife is the product of a family that I admire, and she inspires me.  She is the love of my life, for sure.  She’s brilliant (has a masters degree in education). She’s funny (mostly unintentionally, but I don’t hold that against her – in fact it’s part of her charm). She is the most amazing mother (besides my own, of course).

Really it’s humbling.  When you’re a boy, there’s a tertiary understanding that you parents are good people, but you don’t fully grasp the full breadth of the job until you’re in the middle of it. By in the middle of it, I mean waking up three-five times a night, then heading off to work a full day, only to repeat it all the next day.  When you’re young you assume everyone’s parents step up and do the right thing.  I’m blessed. My parents were (are) amazing.

But Laura is special. Ask anyone, and I mean, ANYONE and they will tell you that she’s the nicest person they know. Seriously. She’s so nice that she was voted “Nicest” in High School (a fact I only just learned after her 20th HS reunion).  To which I replied  – I was voted “Best Laugh”  – man, we’re a fantastic couple.  And we are.   Not in the self absorbed, you need to hang out with us way.  But in the  – man, those two were meant for each other way.  Personally, I think that’s rare.

I think it’s rare that there are women like my wife out there.  She works full time, has given birth to two gorgeous little girls, and still finds time to be a phenomenal wife.  Of course, like most men, I’m useless.  I don’t cook, I’m not much for doing laundry, and no matter how hard I try, I cannot for the life of me wake up more than once in the middle of the night to tend to a screaming baby.  Our children would be dead if it were up to me.  I’d be well rested, but yeah…they’d be dead.

So, this is an ode to my wife. The wonderful, sexy, smart, funny, and nice woman who I somehow convinced to marry me. She’s the most amazing mother to her two little girls, and I hope one day they read this and know that their Daddy really….REALLY loves and appreciates their Mommy.

Happy Mother’s Day Laura – I love you, always have.

Over and out.