Teaching Respect Through Love and Example

One of the most important lessons I want my children to learn is respect — not just for their father, but for others, for themselves, and for the family we’re building together. It’s something that has to be lived out daily, not just talked about. I’ve learned that the best way for our kids to understand respect is to see it between their parents.

In our marriage, my husband and I have built a relationship grounded in trust, grace, and guidance. He is the head of the house and deserves respect. We made a promise early on that we would handle disagreements quietly, never in anger, and always with love at the center. Over time, that promise has become a foundation for everything we do. And we promised that if I needed correction, it would be done in private and the children would not know. 

My husband leads our family with such calm strength. Even when life gets hectic — when I’m overwhelmed, running behind, or feeling stretched too thin — he has a way of bringing me back to focus. Sometimes all it takes is a look or a quiet word to remind me. Other times it takes a trip over his knee. His steadiness helps me find my own peace again.

Of course, our children don’t know every detail about how we maintain that balance. What they do see is how I respond to their father. When he speaks, I listen. When he makes a decision for the family, I support it. That’s not because I don’t have a voice — I do, and he values it deeply — but because I believe in his leadership, and I want our children to see what unity looks like.

That doesn’t mean I’m perfect. There are moments when I let frustration get the better of me or when I forget to show him the respect he deserves. But we’ve both learned to handle those moments with understanding. We talk, we reconnect, and we remind each other that love sometimes means being humble enough to admit when we’re wrong. And I am quick to admit it to the children and to apologize to the family for my behaviour. 

It’s not about control — it’s about trust. I trust that his heart is always for me, for our family, and for what’s right. That trust allows me to let go of pride and walk in peace, even when things aren’t easy.

We often talk, after the kids are in bed, about how we want them to grow up. We want them to be kind, responsible, and respectful. And we both know that the best lessons aren’t spoken — they’re lived. So I do my best to model respect for their father every day, knowing that’s how they’ll learn to treat others in their own lives.

It’s humbling sometimes, realizing that little eyes are always watching — how I speak, how I react, how I love. But it’s also beautiful. Because in those small, everyday choices, our children see what partnership looks like: strength wrapped in gentleness, leadership balanced with love, and respect that flows both ways.

I can tell you that I address my husband with a "Yes sir” and “No sir”. And my children follow suit and show respect to hubby and myself. I can tell you that so many people have told us that our children are so respectful and then compliment us on our parenting. 

Our home isn’t perfect, but it’s peaceful. And that peace comes from knowing our marriage has a rhythm — one of grace, forgiveness, and mutual honor. That’s the kind of legacy I hope our children carry with them long after they’ve grown.