The future daughter in law

Bet you thought I meant Zac - but no, I'm talking about Jacob. I met Angie about 5 years ago through Yahoo groups and although we live 500 miles away from each other, my son is totally in love with her daughter. We have vacationed together the last 2 years. Jacob is 8 and has it in his mind that her daughter, Hannah, will be his wife someday. It's just that simple. He is as matter of fact about it as some people are about the weather. In his mind, it's a done deal. So if they actually did grow up and marry, it will no surprise to him. Hannah, along with her sister, Reagan are two of the most well behaved, kind, beautiful girls I've ever met. I would have no trouble at all with this marriage. Anyway, today our conversation went like this:

Me: So do you think you will homeschool your kids someday?
Jacob: definitely - or at least my wife will.
Me: And that will be......?
Jacob: Hannah, of course silly. I will be working so she can stay home with the kids.
Me: So that is the way it's supposed to be? You work and the mom stays home?
Jacob: Yep. And when she is ready for a break, I will take a week off from work so she can go somewhere with her friends and I will stay with kids.
Me: She will like that. Ahh, so how many kids do you think you will have?
Jacob: We haven't discussed that yet. But if she doesn't want any pain - we can just adopt some. Do you think she will like that idea?
Me: I think whoever gets you will be one lucky girl.
Jacob: Then Hannah is lucky - because that is who is getting me.

This was an interesting conversation because a few weeks ago in our Yahoo homeschool group there was a discussion about this very subject. How were we raising our daughters? To be homemakers or to go to work? Did our sons expect their wives to work? I never answered because I had never really given any conscious thought to exactly WHAT I was teaching them regarding this matter. So it was neat to see how he thought about this subject just based on what he sees every day.

Posted May 10, 2005