Taking Stock, Giving Thanks, And Making A Change

You see, I get a lot of praise for what I do. Customers and coworkers, family members, Facebook friends are all at the ready to let me know when I have helped them or impressed them or made them laugh. It’s immensely rewarding to hear it, and at times I find myself even seeking out that praise, to a fault.

 

 

But I can’t do ANY of it without her.

 

If you think I am being hyperbolic, you don’t know what my life was like after college. There are all of these things I am terrible at, and she does them for us. Bills, budgeting, remembering to buy toothpaste, cleaning, and of course, caring for our two sons every day.

 

I am thankful that I don’t have her job. I’m not sure that I could do it. I KNOW that I couldn’t do it as well.

And none of that stuff is particularly interesting. None of it is lauded or praised the way a novel solution at work is, or whipping up something new in the kitchen, or sharing pictures of an interesting craft project. None of it gets liked or shared. Being a good mom – a great mom – is just what everyone expects from her.

 

So I am thankful for Katie. Some days I forget it, lost in the myriad frustrations of life, but that never deters her from taking care of us.

And I don’t think it’s enough to simply say thank you. I don’t think its sufficient to give her some sort of sitcom mother’s day present – briefly acknowledging her before we all go back to normal.

I refuse to be the bumbling, stereotypical sitcom dad.

 

I need her. But I’m not helpless. I’m not stupid. I need to do better at helping provide the things she needs. The same kinds of things all of us need – rest, praise, fulfillment, attention, love.

 

Sweetie, I want for you to know that I appreciate you – on more than just Thanksgiving, and I will strive to become a better, more worthy partner for you.

 

I am thankful that I have that chance.