Thank you! Reading this really reminded me of a few important things that I tend to forget. Next week is our ninth anniversary and we are glad to be able to celebrate it with our three kids.
This is so true! I remember the first few months after our second kid was born was the hardest for my wife and I. Once we had two kids it really felt like we were just two ships in the night passing each other every now and again. Instead of both of us bathing, feeding, or playing with one kid, it frequently turned into each of us taking a kid and it became a decently lonely experience. But like anything, you learn how to adapt and you learn to take advantage of each moment even if it's only for the 10 minutes of alone time we have together.
Love this! My wife and I are finally learning to grow together. We have 5 kiddos. 2 of which are 2 year old twins. We’ve always told ourselves that if we can make it through raising twins then we can accomplish anything together.
The other day, my 18 year old daughter, husband and I were sitting around the table together. I said something and my daughter questioned what I meant. My husband translated my words into a whole thought and then told her, “you have to read your mom’s mind.” He was right on the money with what I meant to say, but didn’t. My daughter responded, “I want that,” as she pointed her fingers back and forth between her dad and I want. “I want to marry someone who can read my mind like you and dad do to each other. I want what y’all have.” When you have young kids, you really just don’t realize how big of an impact your marriage on display will be for your kids. If you have young kids, take note… what you do now in your marriage will determine what your kids think about their own marriage when they are grown.
For a tired dad, you bring a level of energy in your missive that’s not only on point, but refreshingly filled with candor and integrity. You have eloquently invited us into your spheres of marital and parental experience. The transition was subtle, but by the midpoint of what you wrote, one would be hard-pressed, not being impacted and drawn in fully. You provided a ring side seat into (your) real life.
As a husband of 35 years, a father to my now grown children, and now a Grandfather to three younglings (…soon to be four), I confess a smidgen of envy. I would have loved to have had the same level of awareness, intentionality, and acquired wisdom, when our marriage was at the chronological level and stage as that of yours and your wife.
We had a healthy enough marriage in our child rearing days, and thankfully, our relationship is still growing, but there were pitfalls and choices which could’ve been avoided if we had been presented with the opportunity to read your thesis …. and if I may be so bold, what you have written is not just a mere treatise or dissertation, I would go further and say it should be required reading as a full-blown manifesto for anyone choosing to get married and have a family.
At this juncture, all I can say is, thank you. My prayer for you, your wife and your children, is that all of you will continue experiencing the vibrancy, joy, revelation and the love which all families need and deserve.
Thank you (and your wife) for providing an actionable template, through your vulnerable exposition—one which others may view and discover how a healthy, vibrant and loving marriage and family can be.
I feel seen. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you! Reading this really reminded me of a few important things that I tend to forget. Next week is our ninth anniversary and we are glad to be able to celebrate it with our three kids.
This is so true! I remember the first few months after our second kid was born was the hardest for my wife and I. Once we had two kids it really felt like we were just two ships in the night passing each other every now and again. Instead of both of us bathing, feeding, or playing with one kid, it frequently turned into each of us taking a kid and it became a decently lonely experience. But like anything, you learn how to adapt and you learn to take advantage of each moment even if it's only for the 10 minutes of alone time we have together.
Love this! My wife and I are finally learning to grow together. We have 5 kiddos. 2 of which are 2 year old twins. We’ve always told ourselves that if we can make it through raising twins then we can accomplish anything together.
🙏
It’s been a year since my daughter was born. I’m learning how that is true every day. It seems that I have a long journey ahead 😃 Thank you!
The other day, my 18 year old daughter, husband and I were sitting around the table together. I said something and my daughter questioned what I meant. My husband translated my words into a whole thought and then told her, “you have to read your mom’s mind.” He was right on the money with what I meant to say, but didn’t. My daughter responded, “I want that,” as she pointed her fingers back and forth between her dad and I want. “I want to marry someone who can read my mind like you and dad do to each other. I want what y’all have.” When you have young kids, you really just don’t realize how big of an impact your marriage on display will be for your kids. If you have young kids, take note… what you do now in your marriage will determine what your kids think about their own marriage when they are grown.
You get it!
For a tired dad, you bring a level of energy in your missive that’s not only on point, but refreshingly filled with candor and integrity. You have eloquently invited us into your spheres of marital and parental experience. The transition was subtle, but by the midpoint of what you wrote, one would be hard-pressed, not being impacted and drawn in fully. You provided a ring side seat into (your) real life.
As a husband of 35 years, a father to my now grown children, and now a Grandfather to three younglings (…soon to be four), I confess a smidgen of envy. I would have loved to have had the same level of awareness, intentionality, and acquired wisdom, when our marriage was at the chronological level and stage as that of yours and your wife.
We had a healthy enough marriage in our child rearing days, and thankfully, our relationship is still growing, but there were pitfalls and choices which could’ve been avoided if we had been presented with the opportunity to read your thesis …. and if I may be so bold, what you have written is not just a mere treatise or dissertation, I would go further and say it should be required reading as a full-blown manifesto for anyone choosing to get married and have a family.
At this juncture, all I can say is, thank you. My prayer for you, your wife and your children, is that all of you will continue experiencing the vibrancy, joy, revelation and the love which all families need and deserve.
Thank you (and your wife) for providing an actionable template, through your vulnerable exposition—one which others may view and discover how a healthy, vibrant and loving marriage and family can be.