"Do You Love Daddy Now?"
Mood:  crushed out
Topic: Sam
Sam has developed a sensitivity to the way Ben and I interact, and it's quite enlightening. As you can imagine, Ben and I are both very opinionated, and we have a very hectic life. So frequently we will end up engaged in a spirited debate on some topic (not argument, because there is no anger or rancor involved), or will be rushing frantically around the kitchen trying to get things done with two kids snapping at our heels. And we may raise our voices. Not yelling at each other, more like "Hon! Grab that! I have to keep Matt from pulling everything off the table!"

And when we raise our voices, Sam has taken to coming over to me and saying "Mommy! Do you love Daddy now?" And I assure him that I love his Daddy very much and always will. "Do you? Do you love Daddy now?"

When we raise our voices or talk in a heated manner, even a little, he's afraid we don't love each other. And I think it's very important for him to realize how much we love each other. It's revealing. If Sam has to ask "Do you love Daddy?" that's a reminder to Ben and me that we need to speak to each other with a bit more gentleness and love, and a bit less hotheadedness and haste.

Thanks for the reminder, son. And while we're at it, we love you, too.