It all started when our three-year-old made our bed without being asked. My mind started to wander and then, bam, it hit me like a ton of bricks when I finally realized they won’t be all MINE forever. They won’t stay with me forever like I’ve always hoped. They won’t NEED me forever like I’ve always imagined. And, they won’t WANT to spend as much time with me as they get older. So, there, I said it. That’s it.

Someday, you will find someone who doesn’t mind filling your car up with gas because the thought of doing it yourself gives you major heartburn.

Someday, you will find someone who understands you need your space until you’ve had enough time to wake up in the morning.

Someday, you will find someone who will eat all of your burnt, boring, flavorless dinners without a second thought.

Someday, you will find someone who won’t mind all of your dirty clothes on the floor, two feet away from the hamper, I might add.

Someday, you will find someone who will walk behind you and pick up your shoes that you’ve taken off in the middle of the living room floor for the seventh time that day.

Someday, you will find someone who will watch the same movie over and over again simply because it’s your favorite.

And when you do, I want you to be prepared. There is nothing I want more in this world than for you to find love and happiness and peace. It won’t be easy, but I hope you’ve learned a little from me (and your dad) over the years.

I hope you are patient when the world starts spinning.

I hope you are quiet and still when you can feel the stresses of life weighing you down.

I hope you love especially on the really hard days. You know, the days when you start to wonder how in the world you two ended up together.

I hope you stay true to your commitment (however serious it may be at the time).

I hope you are encouraging and supportive no matter what.

I hope you keep your composure when faced with difficult decisions and situations.

I hope you are respectful and kind when your thoughts and opinions are not the same.

I hope you admit when you are wrong and apologize when needed.

I hope you do the things that are important to each other even if they are things that don’t matter to you.

I hope you always remember why you fell in love in the first place.

So, there it is folks. I am raising them to be someone’s spouse someday. I am teaching them (well, trying to teach them) how to love and how to be loved. I am teaching them how to be responsible and kind and caring and patient (amongst other things, of course).

They are watching. They are seriously, always and forever watching. My prayer today is that I am not only a Godly example as a mother but also as a wife, and furthermore that I have the knowledge to use all of the wisdom and tools from the man above to teach them how to be someone’s spouse someday.

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8