"Daddy, why do you kiss mommy in front of us kids?"

Ok, so I like to kiss my wife. That's normal, isn't it? Well, it is for me. When should I be aloud to kiss her- when no one is around, especially the kids?

You have probably heard older people talk of the older days when men and women did not express outward displays of affection in public. It just wasn't right. While I'll agree that some things that I have seen people do in public was not appropriate, I believe that there is a link to good parenting that we capitalize on here.

Kids pick up on almost everything, don't they? Maybe not the things that we try hard to teach them, but in everyday interactions they seem to find meaning in what they see. Only a few months ago, the same daughter that asked why we kiss in front of the kids, asked if we were getting a divorce. That was never said in the conversation between me and my wife, but she sensed the tension in our conversation.

Anyway, why do I kiss my wife in front of my children?

I want them to know that I love her. I tell her that I love her in front of them too. I tell them that I love them too. I kiss them too. It's kind of like helping them to associate actions that go with love. If there is disrespect, I quickly point out that that is not what we do if we love someone. If I act disrespectful toward them, the I show them the way of sorrow for wrongs done and seeking forgiveness.

I also want both the boys and they girls to see healthy ways to act for the days in which they will find a spouse. Relationships are not all business. They are playful, fun, work and planning. They need to see and understand all these things, so they have a map to follow in their future.

A few times, a couple of our children have said, "You love mommy don't you?" That is something they observed. That is something they learned. That is why I kiss my wife in front of the children. Well..........sometimes it's I just can't wait for later when we are alone!