Benediction #63
Mollie | on good dads & the hat of the (or at least *my*) summer
Happy Father’s Day, y’all. I don’t intend to always write about parenting, but I’d be crazy not to use this space to brag on Zach today.
Everyone talks about how having a baby changes the dynamic between partners, for better or worse. For me, becoming a parent gave me a deeper admiration for who Zach is as a person. He is steady, patient, kind, and honestly loves being a dad. It’s a joy to watch but it’s an even bigger joy — and honor — to parent alongside him.
Zach and I often talk about what kind of parents we want to be… what we value and what we want to prioritize, encourage, and limit as a family. It’s all-consuming at times, seeing as the stakes are so high. But I hold fast to two things: God is in control, and I get to do this with Zach Buckler. We’ll screw it up along the way, of course, but knowing we have each other’s backs makes the road ahead a lot less scary.
So, this Sunday I’ll raise a glass to dads like Zach: men of integrity who do a dang good job loving their families in word and deed.
eating
Seeing as I’ve only been home like three days over the last three weeks, pickins are slim around here. I’ve been in get-my-life-together mode this weekend, remembering how to live at home and not out of my suitcase. I did try Chile & Limon Fritos in the Puerto Vallarta airport and they were… life changing? I wish that were an exaggeration but I’ve been thinking about them for the last two weeks!
We’re hosting Father’s Day dinner tonight and keeping it simple: BLTs, a couple dips (including riffing on this one), pasta salad via Mom/Gran, and apple crisp for dessert. This seems like a good time to remind you that TJ’s Everything but the Bagel Seasoning is a great addition to pretty much any sandwich with mayo and toasted bread.
reading
Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley — This is a great, quick listen, but I wish I would have read so I could have highlighted. I really appreciated Justin’s take on family habits, especially bedtime and screentime. I’d like for us to incorporate his suggested bedtime prayers for little ones as Hap gets older.
Side note to this: Zach and I are big fans of Jonathan Haidt, one of the authors of The Coddling of the American Mind. His content on social media and teens is really insightful, including his most recent article The Case for Phone-Free Schools.
28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand — My first Elin Hilderbrand novel! This was my book club’s pick for last month and it did not disappoint. If you’ve read any Elin novels, I’d love to know which one I should read next!
loving
Sunshine Tienda Hat & Sarong — The hat was a splurge knowing I had multiple warm-weather trips coming up. I’ve REALLY enjoyed wearing it over the last few weeks (and my beach trip photos reflect that, seeing as I have it on in most photos, ha!). It also seems to be the hat of the summer for young southern moms, because I saw lots of gals in Sunshine Tienda hats at the pool and beach while we were in Florida!
Unfortunately I didn’t get any photos in my sarong, but I love that there are so many different ways to wear it. My fave is the short skirt version.
Sizing note for the hat: I’ve got a BIG OL’ HEAD and the L/XL fits me well. I did measure using their sizing guide before ordering.
Being Frenshe Hand Serum (via Target) — h/t to The Corporate Mama for this rec. I went with the Bergamot and Cedar scent. The consistency is lovely for bedtime— not one of those creams that feels so thick that you know you’re just going to get it all over your face while you sleep.
Until next time!
Wishing you well,
Mollie