I Love Your Mom More Than I Love You

Audrey Rae, Braxton, and Charlotte-

I love your mom more than I love you. There, I said it.

Okay, that’s probably a weird thing to say, especially because I am of the opinion that either you actively love someone or you don’t, I’m not sure you can really be “sort of” sacrificial toward others, so let me explain.

Just this morning, we were all getting ready for the day. Your mom was taking the three of you to a women’s Bible study, while I was heading into the office. While we were packing things up, Audrey Rae asked a simple question: “Can I bring a blanket to keep me warm in the car?”

I responded, “Sure, sweetheart, no problem.”

But, your mom stepped in, “No, she cannot.”

A lot of things could have happened at that point. I could have argued. I could have insisted that you, Audrey Rae, just wanted to be warm on a cold day. I could have made all sorts of statements to try and get you a blanket.

But I didn’t.

I didn’t because I know and love your mother. She’s not cruel, in fact, she’s loving and caring. I know she wants what’s best for you, I know that she doesn’t do things without good reason. I know that, above all, she loves you deeply, and if she doesn’t think you should have your blanket, then you shouldn’t have your blanket.

So, instead, I just said, “Oh, my fault, Audrey Rae, you can’t have a blanket, sorry.” (Turns out you had already asked this question and the only blanket you wanted to bring was dirty. You had refused all the others.)

Kids, I have seen so many families in which one parent is completely wrapped around the finger of the children, and the other parent is left completely without authority. In situations like this, the children start making the rules, and immaturity, selfishness, and stubbornness abound.

There may be times when you want something, but your mother doesn’t approve. I will (nearly) always side with your mother. We have agreed on always being a united front to raise you, and never letting you think that if one of us says “no”, that you can just go ask the other for permission. Now, there may be times that I debate your mom on your behalf, or that she debates me for your sake, but these things will always come when her and I are alone.

Think of it this way: in the game of parenting, your mother is my teammate, you three are not. Consider yourselves the ball, and the end zone is a successful, Christ-like, adult life. Our singular goal is to work together as a team to get you to that end zone.

You mother and I will always support one another over you three. Not because you’re not important to us, but because of how indescribably important you are to us. We want nothing more than for you three to always view us as a single, united force of love, discipline, and parenting.

So, you guys will never win in a battle of making me choose between you and your mom.

Your mom, your beautiful, loving, caring, capable, intelligent, and stellar parenting mom, will always be the one I stand with.

But make no mistake, we both love all three of you to the ends of the Earth. I just love your mom more.

1 Corinthians 1:4

            Dad