Sunday, September 21, 2003

My New Title

My 26 year old daughter is getting married soon to a great and wonderful guy. They will be adding the new roles and responsibilities of husband and wife to their busy lives. They have been engaged for eleven months, yet it just dawned on me today that I, too, will be taking on new responsibilities. I will possess that most maligned and dreaded title, mother-in-law.

I recently saw a TV commercial hawking a particular internet service. The spot featured a thirty-something wife asking her husband why he hadn't told her about the twenty emails her mother sent, asking to come visit them. He feigned innocence, and even showed her his in-box with no emails from Mom. Seems that, unbeknownst to his wife, he had turned on a handy feature that blocked Mom's emails.

OK...making a nuisance out of myself to the newlyweds might not be a super idea, nor, apparently, would moving in for a few weeks be welcomed with open arms. But I can't help myself: I feel compelled to give advice to my beloved daughter as she starts her new life. Listed below is what I have so far. Please email me soon with suggestions...the wedding is only six days away, and I have a role to live up to.

1. Choose to be kind to each other, even when you don't feel like it.
2. Worship and pray together.
3. Don't let your job take all your time and energies. Save the best for home.
4. Set aside specific time to spend together each week. Sunday afternoon works well for many pre-child couples.
5. Share a passion together...be it music, mountain biking or cooking.
6. Appreciate and compliment.
7. One word: lingerie.
8. Separate bathrooms, if at all possible. Trust me on this.
9. Smile. God is good.
10. Again, worship and pray together.

God bless you both.

Send emails to me at DeborahWhite@UniqueRecipes.com.


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