In the words of Jane Austen – or should I say Mr. Darcy -

I have to tell you Bridget: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.  

52 hours.  Start to finish – 52 hours.  I have been married almost 13 years, am 35 years old, have a seven year old daughter in first grade and a three year old son in preschool and in just 52 hours – I have realized how honestly poor my appreciation and understanding of motherhood – good motherhood – really was.  And Bridget, the mother of my children – is really good at motherhood. 

The thing is, I knew that 52 hours ago. I knew she was amazing on so many personal, spiritual, longsuffering, and gut rending levels.  But as to her mothering – I knew it at a Hallmark card cliché sort of level - a Focus on the Family 300 hundredth show on mothers for mothers about mothering level. Not the same thing as trying her pants on (you know what I mean) and walking around in them for 52 hours. 

1. Observe how your child expresses love to you. If your daughter is always looking for a hug, this may be an indication that her primary love language is physical touch. If your son is always giving praise or thanks-"Mommy, this is a good meal"-his love language may be words ofaffirmation.

2. Listen to your child's requests. What the child requests most often is a clue to his/her primary love language. "Daddy, can we go to the park?" "Mommy, can you read me a story?" These children are asking for quality time, and it is probably their primary love language.

3. Listen to the complaints. "Why didn't you bring me a present?" may be your son's way of telling you that his love language is gifts. "We don't ever go to the beach anymore?" may be an indication that the child's primary love language is quality time.