Not Your Average Joe

Recently Snapper's Momma wrote about her home's economics and how she and Attic Man get stuff done. In thinking about her post and watching another friend survive her husband's three week long business trip to India, I've been reflecting on The Captain and the way we do things.

You know how women often like to have the husband bashing session when they're out for a girl's night? "my husband forgot my birthday, my husband never does anything to help around the house, my husband likes to play with the kids but not do any of the real work..."  you know the drill. Well during those rounds of the conversation I just settle back and sip my lemon drop, waiting for the storm to blow over. I have no complaints. I just can't identify.

Maybe I'm selfish, but I stand up for what I want in our relationship. I think we have a pretty good foundation of being generous with each other, and offering more when one or the other needs more. We both work hard. I love that The Captain recognizes that what I do, staying home with our children, is important, and exhausting. So if you want a list of stuff my Superman does, it includes, but is not limited to:

the dishes after dinner, getting the kids ready for bed, constant picking up around the house (we're both compulsive), agreed no-cook Friday where we go out or he brings home take-out, helping with the laundry if I'm having a hard time making it happen, emptying the dishwasher a couple times a week, taking out the trash most of the time, getting our cars serviced, buying me flowers and random gifts (because I'm into that), letting me sleep in while he takes the kids some weekend mornings, being fine with my generous clothes allowance and not grudging me spending money on items he wouldn't buy, gladly giving money to causes I feel are important, changing the kids diapers and getting them dressed before he leaves for work in the morning, yea, the list goes on and on.

He tells me he loves me. Every night at dinner we talk about our day and he really wants to hear how mine was. We put the kids to bed right after dinner and spend the rest of the night together. He asks my opinion. He is patient when I am controlling, funky, or hungry ("you better know the one you love. She may be hungry, but she won't say. But you better get a burger in her right away. Or else you'll be the one to pay, at the hand of the one you love. - Randy Newman, really genius with that observation!). And when I wake up from a horrible dream that he was cheating on me (brought on by watching a movie where the wife finds that out), he holds me tight and says "baby, I will NEVER cheat on you."

I don't talk about The Captain much at this venue. But I just wanted to take this little minute to say that we don't negotiate who does what. We ask each other to do stuff, and we offer to help each other. Of course The Captain has his faults; don't we all? When it comes down to it though, his faults are very few. He's genius brilliant, generous, kind, loyal, honest, a great father, the best husband, and have I mentioned he's hot? I'm just sayin...

Comments

[caro.d]

woohoo, girlfriend!! I too am overwhelmed at the general awesomeness of the mate I've got. As you said we all have our faults but your entry made me want to make a list for MY man so that I can read it whenever I get a little out of whack about the small stuff. (mine's a hottie too :)

[tamara cosby]

I too was thinking I have an amazing husband! Especially after this weekend when he took care of his ENTIRE family being sick (ok...one child of four was not ill)...he was amazing and precious and I just love him!! Funny though, I grew up in Cedar Rapids where Snapper's momma lives!

did you love the zoo? We haven't renewed our membership and I was thinking about doing it again...

[tamara cosby]

Did I mention we have filled out paperwork to start the adoption process. I"M TERRIFIED!

[Jamie]

Kohana - LOVE this post you wrote. I LOVE it when people are truly madly and passionately in love with their spouse. I'm like you when it comes down to bashing my man - just not into it!

Thanks for sharing this love story - I LOVED reading it!

[cloudscome]

Where'd you find him?