Show Unconditional Loveby Teresa McEntire | More from this Blogger 22 Jan 2007 08:16 PM Since Valentines Day is just weeks away I thought I'd take a moment and talk about love. Love is discussed all of the time. You hear about it on television and the radio, you read about it in books. There are so many different types of love. You can love your friends, your car, chocolate, and of course your family. The love I want to focus on is unconditional love for your spouse and children. In fact showing unconditional love is one of the ten things that happy families do. Unconditional love means that you love your children and spouse no matter what. Your love and attention is not based on certain criteria being met. It means that you do not withhold your love if you are not happy with your spouse or children's behavior. I recently read a book titled "The Peacegiver." The author talked about how no matter what your spouse or children may do to you, you still have a choice whether to love them or not. Your love should not be dependant upon their actions. This is definitely easier to say than to do. I will be the first to admit that it is difficult to love my spouse when he has done something that hurts my feelings or to love my children when they have just willfully disobeyed. But I have to remind myself that their actions do not determine my reaction. Of course there are times when you have to discipline your children, but it is important that you express your love afterwards. I remember as a child that my dad always told me he loved me after I was disciplined. Because of this I knew that my parents would love me no matter what choices I made. When I got married my dad gave me a few words of advice and one of them was to not give my spouse the silent treatment and the same goes for your children. He told me that love was a conscious choice that I would need to make on a daily basis. I have found that his advice is really true. Although it isn't always easy to love unconditionally it is worth it. See these related blogs: 14 Ways To Show Your Kids You Love Them Making Valentines Day Special For Your Children 10 Things She Needs From Her Husband Learn more about Teresa McEntire  Teresa McEntire grew up in Utah the oldest of four children. She currently lives in Kuna, Idaho, near Boise. She and her husband Gene have been married for almost ten years. Relevantparenting tags User Comments  Katie-Anne Gustafsson (604) 23 Jan 2007 01:45 AMWhen my 6 year old with Aspergers is having a bad day, he'll have one of his melt-downs and I'll just wait until he finishes, ask if he's finished and then tell him I love him anyway - never fails to get a smile and "I love you too!" back! One way I show unconditional love in action is when my eldest asks why I sleep in the same room as Pappa when he's snoring, I tell him that when you love someone as much as I love his pappa and him and his little brother, you love them no matter what - good things and bad. This usually gets a serious nod and a "you must loves him very much!" comment! He's not wrong there! LOL Katie-Anne Discuss this article
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