A lunch date in the middle of the afternoon because we miss each other between the legos and basketball hoop and constant demands to give all of us to all of them.
Conversations where he listens until I feel fully heard.
Cross-pollinating our days with stolen moments in the sunshine in between our two business modes. When no one is drop dead exhausted yet. And my conversation opener is more than, “thank heavens you’re home; here take these kids before I do bad, bad things to them.”
Holding hands.
Laughing so hard that even the kids want in on the private joke.
Unloading the dishwasher together.
Sunday afternoon grown up naps.
He tells me I’m beautiful, in the wee hours, without make up. And I believe him. Wearing my rumpled hair and his Tigers T-shirt. The one he had before he ever had me.
Tulips.
OK, your turn.
The earlier in the day, the better chance there is that you won’t have snot or some other gunk smeared across your shirt from the kids!
Yes, wise words. Lunch dates are the best for so many reasons!
Wow–I feel silly. I read your post on my phone, and for some reason, only certain phrases appeared. I thought your whole post was reasons why lunch dates are best. Forget my snot comment!
I vote for walking around a bookstore, talking about books you’ve read or want to read, and enjoying the conversations that follow–the way it used to be before kids became the conversation.
No, no – forgive me! I came back and edited it without realizing you had already left a comment. So your first comment was totally spot on with my first version. Then I came back and dabbled. Sorry ;) I can be an editing fool. Usually though I remember not to hit publish until I am done demolishing and rearranging everything I started with.
I LOVE this. LOVE it.
What a great post. And I have to say this kind of thing is so super important. And yet, somehow, so easy to forget.
Yup, in between diaper changes and 3am wake up calls – it’s hard to feel sexy. So, sometimes it’s good to pause and remember what makes us a couple, rather than just a tired mommy and daddy.
What a GREAT post for me to begin my comment career at The Gypsy Mama (for the record, NOT the first time I’m reading, girlieQ!!!).
It’s so important to think about these things, to be intentioned…and then to ACT on them; and they don’t have to be “big”, it’s the simple things (like your suggestions :) ), that mean so much.
For me, a lot of time, it’s words (an unexpected text…an email, or just a hand-written note); or folding laundry; or telling me he’ll finish the kitchen. I suppose unexpected help domestically speaking cranks my motor :).
Or something like that ;).
*Big Happy Sigh* ~ A comment from Robin!! My day is complete! Seriously. And I couldn’t agree more – it’s the little things that add up to the big things. Grand gestures start with the laundry. ;)
Lisa-Joe,
I truly don’t know how I would survive three boys without my husband softly coming behind me in the kitchen to wrap his arms around me and kiss my neck or
quietly coming into the closet to watch me get dressed only to take my clothes off again
or
calling me in the middle of the day to tell me he was thinking about the time that we made love in my office and he got the chills.
This is not to say that I don’t get annoyed with him when he plays too rough with the boys and makes them cry
or
needs to file a tax extension because he was too busy to address our finances
or
wakes me up blowing his nose
or
hacks a wart off and arrives at the table with a bloody bandage on.
Hi there! Just found you today and love this post by the way. There are so many petty things we talk about re: our husbands with our friends that it’s great to sometimes remember why we married them/fell in love with them in the first place :)
My husband is such a funny guy that he can almost always make me laugh in any situation. Take for example last night when we were running late to get home to watch ‘The Office’ (fave show!) and he was driving as quickly as possible while still being safe and obeying the law and he said, “I’m a pimp in distress!”
I was like, “Did you just say, you are a ‘pimp in distress?'” and he say, yep.
I cracked up laughing and we got home just in time :)
Happy Friday Follow!
followme@:
http://www.domesticated-bliss.blogspot.com
Yup, there is nothing as sexy as both cracking yourselves up over a private joke! And the Office – I mean, does comedy ever get any better than that?? {Trick question: the answer was obviously NO!}
When he walks in the door and his eyes light up when he sees me.
When he shares his disappointments, frustrations, and joys from his day.
When he calls me to give me directions out of downtown because he knows I get lost easily, and then calls later to be sure that I found my way. (this happened this week – he even apologized for not giving me directions before I went to the car!)
When he holds my hand and doesn’t want to let go.
Oh, and Sunday afternoon grown up naps, they’re the best! :)
Oh the directions thing – yes me too! LOVE that.
sigh… romance… sigh :) I loved this ah-lohhht: “he listens until I feel fully heard.”
for me… when he calls me Monkee :) sigh
Monkee, eh? What’s with all the pet references this week?! ;)
Monkee… see… Monkee
http://jennyrain.wordpress.com/2010/03/24/what-makes-the-world-seem-ok/
yippee!
I love the private jokes and knowing glances — things that can be done no matter who’s around . . . ;)
Found you by way of (in)courage. Looking forward to looking around!
There is nothing like a well used wink ;)
for me:
when he brings home a little ‘happy’ and says just because I love you
when he takes me shopping and antiquing on a date and offers to buy me something sweet
when he texts me (like he did this week) that ‘it’ keeps getting better and better
when he takes a minute to look up and greet me even when he is busy (at his office)
when he calls me out of the blue just to say he loves me
when i see him being “daddy” –you know the kind that plays in the yard, takes time out to listen to the chatter of the day even when he would rather be doing something else…yeah, him :)
Oh yes, watching my man be daddy is heart melting.
SIMPLY Breathtaking! Love this post. Here’s my answer (from this valentines day):
http://ordinaryinspirations.blogspot.com/2010/02/valentines-day-all-year-around.html
When he stops me in the middle of the bustle, as my shoulders are starting to creep up to my ears, wraps his arms around me or looks me in the eye and says, “You are amazing, and you are doing a great job.”
Oh yes! Sooo true – there’s nothing as encouraging as some words of affirmation and a hug combo!
Beautifully written! I think I will go snuggle with my husband now. It is one of our favorite things to do early in the morning (even before brushing our teeth) and late at night(even when we are both exhausted). We love touching when we sleep, we are newlyweds-hehe :)
Let’s see what else… doing dishes together speak sooo much love to me, walking in the botanical gardens together, jogging together, and going on sushi dates… I could go on!!
Touching toes and fingertips under the covers as we are falling asleep – soo romantic. Even to non-newlyweds :)
Beautifully written! I think I will go snuggle with my husband now. It is one of our favorite things to do early in the morning (even before brushing our teeth) and late at night(even when we are both exhausted). We love touching when we sleep, we are newlyweds-hehe :)
Let’s see what else… doing dishes together speaks sooo much love to me, walking in the botanical gardens together, jogging together, and going on sushi dates… I could go on!!
The tshirt thing? Oh yeah. I love wearing his shirts. Even his old work uniform shirts. So comfy to sleep in.
The way he finds me irrisistible, when 99.9% of all other humans would not. Him wanting me makes me feel sexy.
When he works on the house, tool belt on, hammers hanging, forearms strong, hands capable, utter concentration, as he “builds” our home.
Him on the roof, fixing the antena (again), when he doesn’t feel like it.
His enthusiasm for date night.
Yup, there’s something fantastic about seeing yourself through the eyes of your man, isn’t there?!
I am so with you on those afternoon lunch dates. Sometimes they are way better than evening dinner dates. Mostly because we’re both more awake and energetic. Ha!
I’m blessed to be able to “go to” work with my hubby often. Even though it mostly consists of us riding around from job site to job site, it’s some of the best conversation time we get. Love it.
That sounds fabulously sweet!!! :)
Holding hands while walking to the park or watching the kids play at the park.
Playing footsie on the couch while watching TV.
Texts and phone calls throughout the day.
How he ALWAYS thinks I’m hot :)
I needed to hear this now – taking some suggestions!
Isn’t it nice to know that someone always always thinks you look good no matter what time of day or how many loads of laundry you just washed! ;)
We just recently unloaded the dishwasher together. Really bizarre how ‘together’ it made us feel.
He touches my face softly with his strong hands, and makes my brow cleared of the falling hair and says that he loves me.
He makes me come in to his arms while in bed, and I rest on his shoulder-arms feeling completely protected.
We make breakfast together in the morning before he leaves for the daily routine and work.
He tickles me every now and then, out of the blue and I retaliate, making both of us laugh.
He kisses me on my forehead every time he leaves the house.
He has a “pattern line” invented, as in a private liner just for us, and says it to me every single morning coupling it with a cozy hug.
Thanks, it was a beautiful read.
-Browneyed
Laughter, yes anything that ends in laughter is always good.
I think other web site proprietors should take this site as an model, very clean and wonderful user friendly style and design, as well as the content. You’re an expert in this topic!