Don't judge her

Dear Parker,

One day when you're all grown up and you have a wife and an 18 mo. old son and you work all the time and your wife's in charge of your baby, don't judge your wife...When you ask her why there's chocolate around your child's mouth when she gets home with him from Wal-Mart and she tells you it's because you got into the white chocolate covered oreos at the store, don't judge her. Don't even ask her why she bought those oreos because maybe she needed them in a moment of desperation...and maybe your 18 mo. old saw her try to sneak them in the buggy and started yelling, "Cake!" And when you look closer at his mouth and you see strawberry stains, don't ask her about it. Because maybe your son saw the strawberries in the cart and started opening them up right there in the produce section. And just be glad she was crafty enough to know to lick them herself before she gave them to your son to eat...that way they were at least semi-clean. And don't ask her why she went to Wal-Mart without a list because you know she never remembers what to buy if she doesn't have a list...because AT LEAST SHE REMEMBERED YOUR RAZORS and diapers for your child.

And don't ask her why your son only has one shoe on...you should just be glad that she didn't leave the other one in the cart...and don't judge her when she tells you that she realized in the church parking lot that your baby had his shoes on the wrong feet...because at least she realized it before someone else did...and at least she remembered to put shoes on him in the first place.

And don't ask her why your 18 mo. old's hair is sticking out on the side...because maybe she was running late for early church and didn't have time to spray it down, ok?

Don't judge her, buddy. Tell her how much you love her and how lucky you are that she chose you to marry. And be sure to tell her how your child is the luckiest child in the world because he has her as his mother.Tell her everyday that she is the prettiest woman you've ever laid eyes on...and when you learn to do that..when you learn to not judge her and tell her you know she is doing the best she can even though she's not perfect, then I'll know I've been successful as a mother. Because then I'll know that you've grown up to be just like your daddy..because your daddy is the best man I know. period. And I hope and pray you'll be just like him one day.