Excuse Me?

So my hubby went on a backpacking trip today.  He and our brother in law loaded up their packs, and they're headed to the Idaho mountains.  I heard them talking, and it sounds like they'll get up over 10,000 feet!  Praying for a safe return...

As they were leaving, my brother in law turned to Ben and said, "You gonna take care of your family while your Dad's away?"

"Yep, I'll be the man of the house."

"Okay, well take good care of them."

"I will."

THEN...as if I was caught in the Twilight Zone or some strange body-snatching movie...my first born son turned to me and said...

"Go do the dishes."

PARDON?

He delivered his whopper of a line with a straight face, but a moment later he was  laughing, and honestly...so was I.  It was just so unexpected!  I was thankful that he was laughing because it showed me that he was only teasing.  He was probably thinking of the occasional teasing ("woman, go do the dishes") that goes on between Luke and myself.  

But it certainly made me really think hard about what sort of example and expectations Ben is growing up with.  Are we raising a young man who will make a good husband and father?

It was clear that he was kidding, but it warranted a discussion anyway (that'll teach him to tease me like that!).  We talked about all the work Daddy does to take care of us around here, and how lots of that work even includes work that some might think of as "work for girls" like the laundry and dishes and diaper changing.  I also reminded Ben that Daddy spoils me rotten...rubbing my feet while we watch TV at night, letting me sleep in on the weekends, praying for and with me, surprising me with flowers from time to time, etc.

And then we talked about what it means to be in charge...more specifically, what it means to be a GOOD boss.  

Yes, Daddy's the boss around here...but he has a boss too.  Who is it?  Do you think that some daddies and husbands boss their wives and kids around by telling them what to do all the time?  You're right, they do.  Do you think the wives and children feel loved when they're bossed around?  Me either.  What kind of boss do you want to be some day?  Oh good...I want your wife and children to be happy too.  And honey, I'll guarantee you one thing...if you're wife isn't happy, it won't be easy for you to be happy either.  You're going to be a great husband and daddy some day.   

A wise friend of mine said "I'm not raising children, I'm raising adults".  Isn't that a great point?  It's one that I've been reminded of a lot lately - how what I'm doing right NOW effects the type of adults these children will grow into (gulp).  I'm so thankful that I have a husband who loves and follows the Lord....and I'm so thankful that our ultimate "boss" loves us so much.

Now, excuse me please.  I really do have to go do the dishes!