dear married, stay-at-home-mother:
i see your husband beginning his paid day's work at 7.30am. and this after already having dressed your toddler son and fed him breakfast so you can lay in bed for longer.
he works hard, carefully and skillfully.
he speaks of you with pride and respect, always with a smile. he counts down the hours until 5pm.
at lunch time he heats his lunch he prepared himself the night before because "you have enough to take care of".
don't resent him for his apparent "freedom". he doesn't really want to be here all day, his heart is with you, and with his children. he texts during his breaks to see how your day is going.
please don't be harsh or curt with him when he comes home, he hasn't been skiving off all day leaving you with all the work. he has worked long hours today - so your children can grow up with their own mother as their caregiver.
i know you have worked hard all day today too (oh, i know it!) but don't for a moment think your husband has worked any less. he is tired too. and you aren't the only one who can have a rough day.
so greet him with a smile and a "thank you" when he comes home tonight.
then offer to make his lunch for him.
or dress and feed your toddler son on saturday so he can get one sleep-in.
and remember, you had your husband before you had your children.
sincerely,
this stay at home mother
who is deeply grateful for the revelation (reminder) that observing the working day of a faithful, hard-working husband has brought me.
Beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteSo true xx
ReplyDeleteso so so true - but can't I be a little jealous of his 'freedom' at work and his uninterrupted toilet visits and his ability to have hot cups of coffee? As much as I love him and thank him . . . can I be a little jealous of the drive to work where he can listen to any music, any I say!! !!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely lovely lovely post
Thank you! I really needed that reminder. Perfect timing for me. Lovely words.
ReplyDeletegreat reminder! thank you for those words!
ReplyDeletewww.MamaMaeVintage.blogspot.com
Dee, have you been reading my diary rantings???? Thank you dear friend. Every word is so true and an awesome reminder. As I write this Marcus is enjoying a sleep in, I'll let him know he has you to thank. :)
ReplyDeleteLovely, lovely words.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this timely reminder. Its so true..
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking about this recently and today had gotten up with the kids at 6.15 to let hubby sleep in. Then a blasted earthquake happended which got him out of bed at 7am anyway!! poor guy.
love this, I certainly need a reminder in this area from time to time :)
ReplyDeleteOh I love it! What a beautiful reminder
ReplyDeletethis is only as beautiful as everyone says if their certain someone does all of those things in that first paragraph... my letter might be a little different! Sounds like you are a lucky woman indeed!
ReplyDeleteYup - true, Dee so true!
ReplyDeleteSo good. Such a timely reminder!
ReplyDeleteGreat one, Thanks for that:)
ReplyDeleteOh Dee,
ReplyDeleteI needed that.
I know he works hard but that was just amazing. I need to remember this every day.
I think I'm going to "make it pretty" and frame it so I can always remember.
i need to pin this ;)
ReplyDeleteok so i've been thinking and my hub does SOME of those things... so i shouldn't complain. You're still lucky though!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder - my hubby does that and more, he truly is a blessing... but I tend to forget.
ReplyDeleteI am so very glad there are other moms/wives out there who feel this way! I feel so sad to see husbands treated like another child, or as less than any other family member. each parent has a heavy load to carry, and it's hard to know the challenges our husbands face at work all day before coming home to a full evening of family life. there are times I crave that all day interaction with grown ups or feel jealous of the time alone he gets in the car stuck in traffic. I realize, though, that he must crave the quiet moments I get to fingerprint with our daughter, or bake cookies or visit with friends at a playgroup. there is so much on his shoulders as our sole financial provider, and I try to aim to honor him for it and afford him the same little luxuries (like Saturday sleep ins) that he so graciously gives me.
ReplyDelete*finger paint
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. As an older mom who has been there in those hard early years, I wish someone had said this to me, and I wish young ladies knew to be generous this way that you suggest -- so gently!
ReplyDeletedee, this is such a lovely post. i always cringe when i hear friends whine about their husbands enjoying their whole 'free' day at work while they're at home because i remember what it's like to work a long day away from home- it's HARD!
ReplyDeletethanks for the reminder,
from an unmarried, work at home mother. :)
Very sweet reminder! This is my first visit.
ReplyDeleteGreat post - sometimes I need a little reminder to appreciate my hard-working hubby. Maybe i will let him have a sleep-in this weekend :)
ReplyDelete