he's a keeper - Stand Tall, Shine Bright

I normally wouldn’t post something like this except for an anniversary or maybe Valentine’s Day or his birthday, but today I am grateful for my husband. This morning after dropping my daughter off at preschool I grabbed a coffee with some friends. Naturally, some complaints about our husbands migrated into the conversation. Our husbands are great at their jobs. It takes a lot of time, effort, intelligence and training to do what they do. We all know that and from time to time remember we are glad they put in so much to their jobs so they can continue coming home to us at night. That doesn’t stop us from pointing out all of the things they could and should also be doing at home. I left feeling a little guilty as he made time in his day to pick Avera up from school so I could have some me-time.

I recently found myself resenting his job for the exact reasons I just listed. He has to prioritize his job so he can perform his job safely. That will inevitably take away from our family from time to time. But, and this is a big BUT, he has chosen to prioritize our family even more. This means he’s tired, he’s overworked in his job and in his home. I’m the first to get defensive if I think he’s getting taken advantage of at work, but I’m also the first to take advantage of him at home. I can always find something to complain about; mainly that things weren’t done the way I would have done it, finding a dirty diaper somewhere it shouldn’t be or the trail of clothes + socks + boots he leaves from one side of the house to the other. Then I remind myself, “but things were done and he made the effort.”

So today, I am grateful for my husband. I am thankful that he wants to be a good husband and he wants to be a good father. Because he wants these things, he is.

He works hard to be a good dad while maintaining putting me first. He loves me where I can see it and puts a smile on my face.

He makes the time to have lunch with our daughter. He thinks enough about me to bring me lunch without asking. He does the dishes. He changes diapers. He goes in early so he can come home early, because he wants to do bedtime routine. He takes 30 min when he can to do school pickup then hurry back to make sure he doesn’t get too behind at work… again, so he can come home for bedtime. He does the dishes after dinner so I can take a bath. He makes me coffee in the morning (& sometimes even brings it to me in bed!).

He fills up my water bottle. Now this one may seem odd, but it is worth noting because now when Avera wants water she says “Daddy get water.” She is watching him and she is seeing that he is a good man. I am most grateful for that.

Now some of these things are small. And some people will read this and think “uh yeah, he should do those things”. But on top of all of this (and more I haven’t mentioned), he works hard to have a successful career, provide for our family and fulfill the needs of our home.