I was 21 years old at the time she passed away and wondered "will I ever find a love like that?"And that same year, I believe I did when I met my future husband.
I'm feeling a little sappy (more than usual at least) as my wedding anniversary is just one week away. I've been thinking a lot about my husband and our relationship over the years. From our college days at his fraternity house to 13 years later as we are now the parents of two little boys. Our life and our relationship has changed in so many ways during that time. But the one thing that remains unchanged is that I'm sure he is my one true love. I loved him long before we had children for so many different reasons - he is the most handsome guy I've ever met both inside and out, he makes me laugh like no one else, he's always been able to see through me and he has an unbelievable level of patience that I continue to learn from every day. With all of that I'm amazed at how deep my love for him has grown as I've watched him become a Dad.
You often hear that having kids can put a lot of strain on your relationship. Its absolutely true. Kids require so much of each of you that its easy to stop putting enough focus on each other. And in these early years there is a lack of sleep that is sometimes so hard to get past. While we are together as a family all the time, our little ones tend to take the center stage and its easy to forget simple things like holding hands and asking about each other's day (not just "when was the last diaper changed?" and "did you tell him he could have a cookie?") I know I'm definitely guilty of that more often than I would like to admit. And I spend a lot of time pointing out stupid little things I wish he would do different. "Don't do his time outs like that. Don't let him watch that. Why would you put that outfit on him.. Don't... Don't... Don't..." The truth is that the only reason I have such a silly list of don'ts is because he IS so involved and does SO much for our family. Unfortunately, like many Moms, I tend to be a control freak about everything with my kids.
Too often I forget to point out the million and one things he does that amaze me each day. The fact that he plays songs on his guitar for our boys to sing along to nightly. That he teaches them to love & respect their Mama. That he does a long list of chores every single day including picking the boys up from daycare and making their dinner before I even get home. That he can fix anything from the tiny little wheel on a die cast car to the latest boo boo on our son's knee. That he has a way of making me feel good even on my worst days. That he happily reads a whole stack of books over and over again for my son when I know he has other things to do. That he always puts our family first, even before himself. That he has the patience to teach an impatient 3-yr-old how to fish. That he is thrilled to be planning my son's first camping trip in our backyard. That he has made the weekly grocery shopping trip a special event between him and my son that my son looks forward to all week. (yes, he does our grocery shopping!) That he can see past my "I'm fine" and know when I need a break or a nap or that I forgot to feed myself because I was too busy with the boys. The list goes on to 1,000,001.
So this year as I'm re-defining myself and what success looks like for me, I'm on a mission to appreciate those million and one awesome things my husband does, to take more time to focus on him and demonstrate for my children what a love that stands the test of time is. May we all have a love like my grandparents.
Stick by your man, even if he dies. ~Mary Kieffer (1910-2001)
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