My husband and I have been married 41 years. We have 3 boys 36, 31, 28 and a daughter 25. I was a stay-at-home mom until our daughter started high school and then worked only part time. My husband was thrilled I was home all of those years with our kids and considered it a huge blessing and comfort for him whenever he left town. It is a huge responsibility but it's called parenting! This is what my husband wrote to me recently:
Your children were watching...
when you stayed home to care for them instead of working.
when you took them places and had as much fun as they did.
when you were in church with them every Sunday.
when you said bedtime prayers with them.
when you made home cooked meals every night.
when you had the family sit together at dinner.
when you said NO to having TV's or computers in their rooms.
when you kept saying "That's just an excuse".
when they said they couldn't do something.
when you taught them not to lie.
when you cared for others in need.
when you laughed at all my good AND bad jokes.
when you stopped them and me from gossiping.
when you helped at school. when you cooked lunch for the school staff.
when you took accountability for your actions.
when you pushed yourself to reach goals, i.e. riding 150 miles on your bike.
when you speak kindly about others and respectfully about me.
There are more, but I think you get the idea. Your kids are watching. Make sure you are present in their lives, don't just spend time, invest your time with them. Years later, you will know you did the right thing and isn't that what Dr. Laura always teaches us: "Now, go do the right thing!"
Colleen
