Parenting Guru: a Letter to My Husband at Christmas

To my Dear Husband,

Christmas is your favorite time of year. Although you like to deny it, we all know that nothing can bring tears to your eyes like watching the kids put up the Christmas tree ornaments, watching the Charlie Brown Christmas special, frosting sugar cookies as a family (though sometimes I suspect, in this instance, those are tears of frustration) and watching the kids unwrap their Christmas presents.

This year, I know that underneath the holiday joy and excitement runs a current of stress and fear about finding a job within the next year. You do your best not to show it, but I can tell that worries about our family's finances and future are always on your mind.

If I had the power and ability, the gift I would most love to give you this Christmas is peace about the future and certainty that a job lies on the horizon. In spite of the economy and the job market in the collegiate world, I would love to be able to declare to you that by this next time next year, you will be finishing up your teaching responsibilities to your college students and getting ready to give them their final exams.

Since I don't have that power and ability, what I want to say to you is that I will support you no matter what the future holds for us. Whatever we have to do without, I will have you and you will have me. Our family will be stronger for learning to do with less.

This Christmas might find us with less than usual under the tree, but I'm looking forward to spending the day with you all the same and enjoying the things that cannot be wrapped, things like joy, hope and good will. These are the values that I most want our family to continue to share together, no matter what the circumstances.

Merry Christmas, with all my love,
Your Wife

photo by Kofoed (used under the Creative Commons license)