It’s an exciting day when your family begins to grow, from the two of you to three (or more, if you have multiples), then to four or more. My husband and I were married for almost ten years before we brought a baby home, so it was definitely an adjustment at first!
I am blessed to be married to a wonderful man who’s a great father to our children. He always seems to have wisdom for the situations that I struggle with – and has learned to just listen and sympathize when I need to pour out my mommy woes!
There are many lessons I’m learning about how marriage works through these years of parenting, but here are three that I’ve found helpful.
 |
| Source |
1. Having a partner in raising your children is priceless. Who else on earth loves your children like their other parent? You have someone to bounce ideas off of when it comes to discipline or training; you have someone to commiserate with when those ideas don’t work and you don’t know what else to try; you have someone to share your concern and pray with you when a child is sick; and someone to hold you when you cry as they head off for their first day of school (or overnight camp…or college).
2. My relationship with my spouse comes before my relationship with my children. I’ve often read about the importance of putting your marriage relationship ahead of your relationship with your children. It isn’t easy in the early days, when your children seem to need you constantly and you’re tempted to let your spouse get by on his/her own. But, as our girls are getting older, this truth is becoming even more of a reality to me. Our daughters will leave – sooner, now, rather than later – and I want to still know my husband and keep up with his interests as we approach those years ahead of us.
3. Talking positively about your spouse in front of your children will help them to respect you – and him – more. As a child, I remember sitting in the car with my dad and siblings, watching my mom go into the store to get a few groceries, and my dad talking to us about what a great mom we had. I do this with our girls on occasion, but I’m challenging myself to do it more! I want them to appreciate the wonderful dad that they have.
Each season brings new truths about these relationships to light. What other truths about kids and marriage do you think are important to remember?
I've learned the importance of these things, as well! I'm working on #3, too.
YES! I'm working on #2 – truthfully, that one's hardest for me.