The Small Things

I’ve been married to my husband for a year-and-a-half. I’ve waited all this time for the other shoe to drop, expecting a deranged change in behavior, a sudden change in his feelings for me, or a proclamation that he’d like to sleep with every woman in the neighborhood.

Surprisingly, none of that has happened. I realize we haven’t been married THAT long, but I think if there were red flags, they’d have started popping up by now. 

The truth is, my husband treats me like a queen and it STILL surprises me. And it’s not the huge gestures that impress me; it’s all the small things. He goes out of his way to make my life an easier, more comfortable place. I know many women might try to take advantage of his kindness, but I won’t! I’m too thrilled to be treated nicely after a decade plus of unhappiness and neglect in my first marriage.

What are all of these little things, you might ask?  First, my hands and feet are perpetually freezing, so my husband plugs in my electric blanket at night so I don’t turn into a block of ice. He sets it up before I go to bed, so the sheets are nice and toasty when I fall asleep.

Second, he knows I love seltzer, and always makes sure to pick up my favorite flavors at the store. Third, he drives whenever we go out. I hate driving, so this is a huge gift for me. Fourth, he shows real concern and compassion when I’m sick. He’ll slip out quietly to pick up medication or anything to make me feel comfortable. Fifth, when I need help transporting my son around (I have a weird work schedule) he’s always happy to help and never complains about it.

This is a very abbreviated list of the ways he shows how much he cares. I didn’t even mention how he kisses me every morning before he leaves for work, how he makes dinner on Tuesday nights when I’m tired after a long day, how he walks the dog in freezing weather, or always, calls when he’s going to be home late.