To my amazing husband,

I remember back when our firstborn entered the world and I spent every day struggling to survive. The days were so long and the nights were even longer and I was so exhausted and overwhelmed. I couldn’t wait for you to get home from work and take over.

Some days were almost unbearable, because of our baby’s severe reflux and colicky wailing that left me undone by the fourth hour of trying to console her. Often, you would find me in a fit of tears right along with our baby, desperately handing her over to you before you could even take your coat off. You were ready to step in and take over the minute you walked through that door after a long day at work.

Thank God you were there.

I couldn’t do the hard work of parenting without you.

Once our second child came along, things got even harder and I grew more exhausted with managing our babies’ countless illnesses and unpredictable sleep and feeding schedules. While nursing our second baby and tending to all his needs and constantly caring for our firstborn who was suffering through many medical issues, I was drowning in sleep deprivation, anxiety, and utter overwhelm.

Seeing you come through the door at the end of your workday was the hope I held onto, the comfort I longed for, and the reprieve I so desperately needed.

Thank God you were there.

I couldn’t do the hard work of parenting without you.

As the kids got older and homework got harder and their schedules got busier, I awaited your return so you could dive in and help with it all. You’d walk through the door to power struggles, sibling fights, messy rooms, and burnt food. I’d beg you to step in to help one with homework or take the other to practice. You’d hear about how hard it’s been to get the kids ready or how I didn’t get to wash a kid’s uniform or how bad I felt that I burned their food.

You’d always listen, and get to work helping pull everything off in the throes of it all.

Thank God you were there.

I couldn’t do the hard work of parenting without you.

And now our kids are teenagers, busier than ever and needing us just as much to help them manage their lives with responsibility and grow in maturity. You walk through the door to find me racing around the house doing allthethings to get the kids out the door. Sometimes you don’t see me at all, but you get a text that one kid needs to be somewhere while I’m taking the other kid elsewhere. Our calendar is packed and the kids need us to show up and get them where they need to go. So as soon as you get home, you know all about who goes where and why as you get back into the car to help carry out the demands of parenting that lasts well into the night. 

I couldn’t do the hard work of parenting without you.

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For 16 years, you have come home from work every day and stepped in to parent our kids. You always take the time to build strong relationships with our kids, spending time with each of them and caring about how they are doing. They depend on you to show up because you always have. You never miss a game, a match, a meet, a ceremony where your kids are involved, because your dedication to your kids far exceeds your own needs. You always ask me how you can help with it all because you’re so invested in our family and committed to raising our kids together.

And I thank God you’ve been there.

Because I couldn’t do the hard work of parenting without you.

And I know that as the years continue, I’ll still need you every time you step through that door after your long day at work. And I know you will always be ready to dive in and show up for your kids, for me. 

You have dedicated your life to our family, to raising our children with enduring strength, unending grace, and relentless commitment.

I know there are many moms who don’t have a husband who comes home from work and walks through that door to immediately step in and show up for their kids. So, thank you, dear husband.

Thank you for being the father who puts your family first every single day.

I thank God you’re here.

I couldn’t do the hard work of parenting without you.

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