Have you ever had a role model that you didn’t realize was your role model until later in life? Without even realizing it my grandma shaped me into the wife and mother I am today. It wasn’t until recently that I took note of all of the little things I do now just because I once watched her do them!
- Doing little things to serve your spouse doesn’t make you a subservient woman. It makes you a wife who cherishes her husband and wants to bless him in all the ways. Yes, folding laundry is annoying, but it’s annoying to him too. So when I can, I fold his laundry and even put it away for him. One less thing he has to do at night that will free up some time for us to be together!
- Cooking meals doesn’t have to be a chore. My grandma poured every ounce of love she had into her meals for us! She knew our favorites and always had the ingredients on hand. I hate lemon bars, but my husband loves them. You won’t ever look in our pantry without seeing the ingredients just in case. My kids have a deep love for bombpops, they are always a staple in our freezer.
- Cleaning up after someone can be so much more than an annoyance. When I asked her why she always cleaned a room after us kids when she knew we were just going to make a mess in it again her answer was, “Well, I want you to be able to have a nice place to make your mess!” This is no easy feat, but I try to grumble less when I am cleaning up after ungrateful tiny humans!
- Find a chore you can share together. She may have cooked all the meals, but when it was time to wash the dishes (yes, she hand washed all of her dishes) my grandpa always helped her dry. They would stand at the sink and laugh together every night! This was also when I would see them be the most affectionate. Who knew dishes could be an aphrodisiac!
- You don’t always have to be right. Sometimes you just aren’t. That’s OK. My grandma can argue with the best of them, but she always accepts when she is wrong with class. Not pouty fits or the silent treatment.
- Laugh like a lunatic! My grandma has the most infectious crazy laugh. She laughed at us and with us often!
- Play. Play something every day. Grandma is a bit of a card shark. When I was young, every night after dinner we’d play cards. She’s the reason I refuse to not keep score. (The winner gets their name circled!) My family and I make it a point to play some type of game almost every night.
- Sit. So often our lives get so busy we don’t just sit. After the breakfast dishes were washed (again with the hand washing) and put away, grandma would sit down at the table or outside on the swing with her cup of coffee and just sit. She enjoyed the little things, the birds, the sounds, the air. When was the last time you just enjoyed the air or the feel of the sunshine?
- Hug long and awkwardly. Hug your people, hug them long and don’t let go. Hug them until it gets awkward, you never know when you will see them next. She’s the master at the long awkward hug… but man, what I wouldn’t give for a grandma hug right now! (She lives a few hours away.)
- Be present. This one needs no other explanation. She always listens. No matter what.
So list out the things you’ve learned from your role model. Tell them thank you! Remember that you might be a role model for someone even if you don’t know it yet.
