When I was a little girl, I knew that my parents loved each other. We had an older Ford Bronco and a lot of times my mother would scoot over to the middle seat beside my daddy and he’d put his arm around her. They called it scooterpookin. My sisters and I would giggle as we sat in the back. I remember my parents hugging in the kitchen while we took turns trying to squeeze in the middle. We also knew that neither would ever go against the other and take our side. They were a team. We knew they loved each other. We knew they loved us. We felt safe.
My hubby and I will be closing in on 15 years in December. We have four kiddos of our own. Life is far from perfect and it’s crazy but they also know that I’m crazy about their daddy. Let your kids know you’re crazy about their daddy. Here’s my favorite ways to do so:
- Smooch and smooch often. When I give him a smooch and they giggle, I’ll tell them, “When you get married, you need to kiss your honey a lot!” We hug often around our bunch. We hold hands when we get the chance.
- Try to date or get as close to one as you can. Grandparents aren’t able to babysit a lot for us during this season and the budget is tight. Sometimes we’ll chase them to bed early and put on a movie and make popcorn because Momma and Daddy need a date. When we do get the chance to go out, I will tell them, “Daddy and Momma have a hot date.” They know it’s a big deal.
- Build that hubby up. My man is a words of affirmation kind of guy. I’m always telling the kids, “Look how strong your daddy is.” “Doesn’t your daddy look handsome?” “We’re so lucky your daddy is such a hard worker.” Bonus points if the hubby hears you also.
Marriage is such a mess today. I want my kids to see what a real marriage is. Their parents are 2 imperfect people doing the best they can but they love each other 110%. We are making an effort everyday. Sure there are times that I would sell their daddy to the circus for a quarter and he’d do the same to me but we’re not going anywhere. I really am crazy about this man. He makes me happy 10 times more than he makes me angry. My hope is that my children will feel safe and one day they will carry some things into their own marriages they see growing up. I hope they kiss their spouses often. I’ll be happy to watch their babies so they can go on HOT dates! May they always build their spouses up in front of others. What a wonderful legacy that would be.
Mark 10:6-9
“But at the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Blessings,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Doan is married to her hubby David for 14 years. Mother to four wonderful kiddos: Sam (10), Sarah (8), Evie Joy (4), and Sadie Rose (6 months). Homeschooling Momma for 4 years with 17 years to go! Elizabeth’s favorite quote in the whole wide world is: “Life is frittered away by details. Simplify, simplify.” -Henry David Thoreau