Everyone wants to feel loved and appreciated. It is a basic human need. As parents, we want to meet that need in our children and our spouses. As with almost anything in life, sometimes the smallest things can make the biggest difference. One simple way to show our love and appreciation to our children and spouse is to create a loving home. Strive to make them feel as if they are the center of your world when they walk in the door after a long day of school or work.
The best old-fashioned piece of marriage advice that I got was this: Go to the door to greet your husband when he comes home. Save your complaints, stresses, problems and whining for later (or for never!)
When my kids were little, this was easy advice to follow. My husband would walk in the door and immediately our kids would fly to the door. There was lots of hugging, kissing and gleeful cries of “Daddy’s home.” The enthusiastic homecoming was enjoyed by all. The kids loved it, my husband loved it and I loved watching the scene unfold before me.
Now that my kids are older and usually holed up in their rooms or on the computer doing their homework, I still try to maintain that sense of fun and happiness when my husband walks through the door. When I see his car pull up, I give a happy yell in the direction of my kids “Daddy’s home!” At the very least, I walk to the door and give him a warm welcome.
Children can benefit from this as well. Just a few minutes of time as your child walks in the door can make a world of difference. A smile, a hug, a kiss and a listening ear can do wonders to help kids feel valued and loved. School is like one long day of work for them. Knowing that someone is happy to see them at the end of their day, is usually just what they need.
Create a loving home by looking for the small, positive, moments everyday. Greeting our kids and our spouses happily at the end of the day is one small way to build a happy home.
