When I was 24, I was shocked out of my frivolous youth by a positive pregnancy test. While I was non-committal about pretty much everything, my boyfriend was different. He was focused, climbing fast in his career and attentive to me. It’s a wonder he didn’t dump me.
We met with a family counselor, and in my solo session with her, she urged me to see the potential in myself as a mother. She urged me to see how good our life could be if only I could commit wholeheartedly to living for my future husband and child. She dismissed my whiney “but I’m not sure I even love him” with a wave of her hand, and posed questions about whether I respected him, trusted him, and trusted myself not to mistreat him. I was finally being challenged. I realized I DID have it in me, and I was not going to fail.
So, we had a courthouse wedding and rented a home. I quit my job and my child was born followed by another two years later. My husband is the hero to us all, working long days and taking on side projects for extra cash so I can stay home with the kids. At the end of his workday, he kisses me first, then gets on the floor to play with the kids. He is grateful for a home-cooked meal, encourages my side hobbies, is slow to anger, and is never too tired to read a bedtime story. He lives for his family and I am grateful for such a deeply committed and lovable husband.
So, what started as an immature and irresponsible fling has evolved into a committed partnership and love story. And even though it’s true that love is not enough, when you’ve got everything else inside a happy home, it can’t help but grow in profusion.
Emily
I Almost Lost Out on a Good Marriage
The Dr. Laura Call of the Day Podcast
