HACKED! A Daddy Ditty
Well party people, It’s time. It’s time for The Mister to guest blog. And to answer your immediate question in brief - my wife has NO IDEA I am doing this...yet. She's out of town with the little salmon paddies visiting my in-laws and left her blog signed in on my computer. So, Carpe Diem, right?! Plus, I figured there's enough sass in the Salmon household to cover the Triangle. Why not continue to share the love in the social media kingdom?
So without further adieu, hello bloggy moms and friends! Hello to the many people who know more about my life than I do. Hello to those who see me studying in Starbucks (like all good city pastors do) and give me the look of “I know you don’t know me, but I read your wife’s blog because she’s amazing and I don’t really know her either, but I die laughing every post due to her excellent writing ability and the hilarity of the events surrounding your family.” Yes that’s a look. And yes I see you giving that look to me. And I’m ok with it. I really am. In fact, I enjoy it. And here’s why.
My wife really is amazing. Truly, Madly, Deeply amazing . And it’s not just because she keeps both our gingersnaps alive on a daily basis (an incredible feat all by itself). It’s not because she manages to cook hot meals for our family. It’s not because she completes shopping errands with the rugrats tagging along in shopping carts leaving puddles of drool in various locations across Raleigh/Durham. It’s not even because she has a great blog or makes me laugh more than anyone else on the planet. It’s all these things, yes, but mostly it’s just because she’s my BEST FRIEND. I have always believed that he who finds a wife finds a good thing. But I’m here to tell you it’s true. It really is true.
So, here’s the thing. Sometimes I forget that. I forget my stunning wife is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Crazy I know, and it’s sad, but it’s true. I don’t know if it is sleep deprivation, the conundrum of the ever-increasing estrogen levels in my household, or simply my inability to remember important things. Either way, here are three things I’m learning as a new daddy and still relatively new husband that I don’t want to forget. And what better way not to forget them than to write them down and post them publicly for the free "Sassy Salmon" world to hold me accountable. So, here goes nothing:
My wife does work. Real Work. Hard Work. Mommy Work.
Dozens of poopy diapers are changed every day. Piping hot meals are often on the table when I get home. Baby food stained laundry is cleaned and folded. All this and more without a paycheck. But even if all those things weren’t done, my baby girls are loved on, cared for, and protected by their mommy. You can’t put a price on that. My wife dotes on our little girls. She cherishes them with her whole being. She is molding their little brains and hearts into becoming women who know and love Jesus. That, dear friends, is work.
Serve & Surprise. Rinse & Repeat.
I owe this jewel of an idea to Pastor CJ Mahaney, who has helped me to see the importance of loving my wife by serving and surprising her as much and often as I can. So, whether it’s bringing home flowers, washing dishes, placing a post-it note in a discreet area of our house before I leave for work, or scrubbing the toilets, I have seen the marital benefit and am learning the art of serving and surprising my bride. For more on CJ’s thoughts on this, go here. (It’s worth the read)
My children are princesses, but my wife is the queen.
Wife trumps children. Always and forever. I love my children with all my heart and would take a bullet for them. But I want them to know and see that when Daddy comes home, Mommy gets the first kiss.
So there you have it folks. This list is in no way exhaustive and I am nowhere near fulfilling these things in a way my wife deserves. But while I try my best to be a good husband and dad, my wife makes me better in every way imaginable and I never want to forget this. Sure, there are stinky times (literally and metaphorically) and times when I think to myself, “What the heck have we gotten ourselves into?” But all in all, I wouldn’t want to do life with anyone else in the world. Ever.
Over and out,
The Mister.
PS - Depending on the response to this post, you may hear from me again. If ratings plummet and we start receiving hate mail, it was nice while it lasted!