My oldest son sent me this. His fiancé was moving states to join him at his new job so he made this welcome basket and had it on the counter when she arrived after the 8-hour drive.

It was a proud mom-moment, but I take no-credit for what he did. It was all him. What I do take partial credit for is raising someone I hope (and pray!) will be a wonderful husband one day.

That deserves an AMEN.

It does not take a genius to know that raising children in today’s world is arguably one of THE most challenging jobs in the world. But we aren’t just raising children, we are raising future generations who will impact the world.

I’m raising someone’s husband.

I’m raising someone’s friend, someone’s co-worker, someone’s coach, someone’s neighbor, someone’s father, someone’s role model.

I am raising someone who was taught early on to be a gentleman, a man of integrity who holds doors, says please and thank you, and treats others with respect and kindness.

But it goes deeper than that.

The decisions we make as parents revolve around who our kids will eventually be, not only as good citizens but also as good spouses. It’s our job and it’s a big one.

Our children watch us. They see how we treat our spouses, our ex-spouses, our parents and our friends. They learn how to be kind, forgiving, and thoughtful. They also observe how to give compliments, fight fair, communicate effectively, and how to repair when we hurt the ones we love most.

They learn from us.

My husband and I have shown affection to each other and my kids learned that expressing gratitude and love for your partner is an every-day action. They grew up seeing a big strong man tear up when he talks about his wife (IYKYK). They have seen a man who does not need to prove his masculinity with his ego and a
man who understands that being sensitive is not being weak.

I once heard someone say “The way we speak to our children becomes their inner voice.” Knowing my son made that adorable basket is no doubt his father’s voice in his head. It is something my husband would do and something our son learned by example: Be good to those you love.

Apparently we did our job.

As parents we are handing off someone to be a great husband and father one day. We are handing off someone who is raised to know what partnership is and how to treat his future wife with the love and respect she deserves. We are handing off our little boy to become a good man.

We are handing off someone to make this world a better place.
💛💛💛