How you raise your kid doesn’t just impact you and your kids but also everyone they interact with. As our kids begin dating it’s so interesting to watch how Dean and my relationship and how we raised our kids has impacted how they interact with other people. We know our family isn’t perfect. We are a geeky collection of misfits with a weird sense of sarcastic humor, but we love wholeheartedly and give without hesitation.
It took me a while to get used to Dean’s family. As I watch these two young girls at my house, I remember being that young girl. Far from home, being welcomed to a new family so far different from her own. I remember the love. I remember questioning it. Not feeling worthy of it. I want to say the right things, do the right things today. To put these girls at ease. To know they are loved and worthy of kindness. I want to be a good example of what a loving wife and mother is. I know it’s not something everyone has. I want them to know in my home, women are valued. That they are valuable.
We joke a lot. We laugh a lot. But at the core, we love a lot. I hope others can see through the sarcasm and see the love.
If I taught these boys anything, they know loving others come first. Today I watched my boys love others well. From the gifts they intentionally chose for others, to the way they lit up around those they care about. I may not be mom of the year, but as the boys grow and their circles grow, I enjoy watching them love others well. I am grateful for opportunities to show love to them, their friends and their loved ones.
