Advice to young fathers, and a reminder to others

Gentlemen: My father in law, Oscar the Grouch, generally begins these sorts of lectures with, " Free advice is worth what you pay for it, so ... I think that..."

This is one of those lectures. I get off sharing this with you, because I'm older than you and care about your well being.

My friends, your wife, the mother of your children, wears many hats throughout her life. She wears them proudly, and with as little complaint as necessary. She's wife, lover, daughter, sister, mother, friend... besides what her chosen career may require.

The gods willing, you two will live to have 80 years of wedded bliss. However long you have, if you remember this one thing, know this in your heart to be true, your life will be happy. Ignore this at your peril.

Of all the hats your wife will ever wear, truly, deeply, to the bottom of her soul, the only one that really matters to her is MOTHER.

No matter how old you are, no matter how long you're married, you will never rank higher in her love than 1 place below the number of children she has. Competing for better is predestined to failure.

To know this, and accept this, is to be a happy husband.

Toad