Where It All Begins: Good Dads Care for Great Moms

Where It All Begins

In the year 1973, the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case made it legal in the United States of America for a mother to terminate the life of her unborn child.

I was born in 1975, two years later.

Praise the LORD, my Mom knew who and what I was: a precious gift of God.

I could tell you about many things my mother did for me as I was growing up, but I’ll assume you already know the kinds of things mothers do.  Maybe your mom did some things mine did not.  Your mother may have coached your T-ball team, made snacks for Boy Scouts, or taken you to piano lessons.  My Mom did some of those things too; other things, she did not.

If you’re reading this, though, it’s safe to say our Moms did one thing the same: they chose to bear us in the womb and give birth to us.

I’m not going to debate the abortion issue here, but it is worth noting that all of us under age 42 are survivors of a world that said for the first several months of our lives, our moms could have made a different choice legally, and we wouldn’t be here today to argue about rights . . . or anything else for that matter. 

Biologically, moms are indispensable to human life.  However, there is another class of mothers, the Great Moms, who raise and care for children.  These Moms are a treasure beyond worth.  It doesn’t even matter if a child is adopted, fostered, or naturally part of one’s family.  Great Moms love their children, whoever they are.

Good Dads Care for Great Moms

As an aspiring Good Dad, how do I teach my kids how that their Mom is a Great Mom?  First, I avoid treating her like she’s anything other than a Great Mom.

Would I appear disappointed when she doesn’t make my favorite dinner?  No.

Am I going to forget to give her flowers on her birthday?  No.

Am I going to make snide comments to the kids behind her back or overrule her, even when I might not 100% agree with a choice she made?  Never.

These are just a few of a long list of things NOT to do.  But what am I going to do to teach my kids how great their Mom is?

Good Dads put Great Moms first.  Her needs are important.  I show this when I turn off the TV, the game system, or the Internet and talk to her.  When I give back rubs that aren’t asked for.  When I bring her surprises and gifts that delight her.  When I let her pick the date-night movie and restaurant.  When I give her a day or weekend “off work” from being a stay-at-home mom.  All are great acts to show how much a Great Mom is priceless.

More is caught than taught with kids.  They learn how great their Mom is by how I treat her, how I speak about her when she’s not around, how I use my tone of voice during our conversations, how I work beside her as a partner, and  how I defend her from physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial dangers. 

My goal as I aspire to be a Good Dad is to make sure my kids see how much I appreciate, cherish, and love their Great Mom.

Sid Whiting is the father of three and the husband of one. He lives with his wife Gail and their children in Springfield, Missouri. He also enjoys real estate investing, serving in the 135th Army Band as a percussionist and bass guitarist, and plays in the Praise Band "Soul Purpose" and the "Hallelujah Bells" hand bell choir.  He can be reached for comment or question at sid.whiting75@gmail.com or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/WiseSteward).