‘They hear him yell ‘I love you’ at me out the window. They see us dance in the kitchen together for no reason.’: Mom shares importance of setting example of ‘what love should look like’

“Every day, our kids witness their dad openly and intentionally loving their mom.

This weekend, they’ve seen us dance in the kitchen together and smooch on the lounge for no reason.

They’ve heard him yell ‘I love you’ at me out the window and caught him grinning like a schoolboy when I flashed him as he mowed.

They’ve had him say to them directly, ‘Boys, how cute is your mom?’ To which they giggled and Noah responded, ‘Pretty cute.’

And just now, E smirked as Mitch responded, ‘Can I come to watch?’ after I walked away saying I was off to get in my jammies.

All like it’s nothing. Like it’s normal.

I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. All love languages are individual and all relationships are built differently…

But for me, I feel so grateful our kids are growing up in a home where love, affection, and appreciation are not only valued but are on display every day as if it’s standard and expected.

As they grow from kids to adults, I feel a sense of comfort in knowing that love is rooted in their family home.

I hope they watch their mom and dad loving on each other and goofing around, and stitch the same sentiment and fun into their own relationships.

I hope they learn from listening to their dad that words, appreciation, and genuine acts of kindness can really mean so much to someone they love.

To think that him thanking me for meals, telling me I look nice, and using endearing words of love all in their earshot is adding to their inner definition of marriage makes me proud of the partner they’ll become.

I hope they notice the adoration in my eyes when he tells me every day that he loves me and appreciates me, and know that this is what love should look like, and what love should feel like.

In this house, love is shown in many ways, but golly I’m grateful that most of those ways are big, loud, and obvious.

Because for them, it gives them permission to be open and honest with their feelings, and to be grand and passionate if they want to be.

It also sets a standard for what they will grow up knowing they deserve—a person who loves them hard with intention, respect, and loyalty… just like how their dad loves their mom.

He’s really setting the bar and for that, I’m forever grateful.”

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Janessa Docking from Australia. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram. Submit your own story here. Be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.

Read more from stories like this here:

‘I expected him to tell me, ‘Yeah, I’ve noticed. You’ve got to do something about that anxiety.’ He didn’t though.’: Mom grateful for husband’s love when sharing insecurities

‘Do I send my child to their brick and mortar campus and worry about their physical health EVERY SINGLE DAY?’: Mom shares frustrations for fall school re-openings

‘You’ll never remember these nights. When I lie in bed, listening to you breathe, and question if someone, anyone, could do this better.’: Mom says ‘you’ll never remember these nights, but I will’

‘I send them to school with stains. We eat dinner in front of the TV. We make noise, a lot of it, and we like our pasta best slurped.’: Mom urges ‘dance to the beat of your own family’s drum’

Provide hope for someone struggling. SHARE this story on Facebook with family and friends