This past month, my husband, Ash, and our two daughters (12 and 15 years old), found great ways to connect and spend joyful time with one another. I read somewhere that teen girls tend to spend less and less time with their fathers as they grow––despite longing for these times. I asked Ash if I could write about their activities with the hope it might inspire other families.
To engage our crafty and artistic older daughter, Ash ordered cross-stitch supplies just for the two of them. Together, Sarah and Ash watched instructional videos, ordered immensely complicated patterns, and began a special ritual of handcrafts together.
As I saw Ash spreading out all the supplies and embarking on this activity so far outside of his preference and skill, he said, “It’s amazing what a man can do when he no longer cares what people think about him.”
Ash and my younger daughter decided to train for a 10K race, and they go on runs together every other night. It’s such a special time to talk and work on physical fitness skills. So these days, he’s off running down the street with one daughter and cross-stitching impressionist paintings with another.
They love this time. They feel special and delighted in. And I feel so filled with joy for a father’s heart for his daughters.
