Confession Time

I have a confession to make: I didn’t get my wife anything for Mothers’ Day. I’ll wait until you’ve finished cussing me out in your mind before continuing.
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I pride myself on being different from the stereotypical husband—I try to do a lot of dishes, change diapers, remember dates, listen to my wife when she needs to vent, surprise her every once in a while, etc. I’ve thought less of men my whole life who didn’t take as good of care of their wives as I thought they should have, believing that it really can’t be that tough.

You know what? I was right. It’s not hard. In fact, as any man who has treated a woman well will tell you, it’s fun to do. It’s fun to think up surprises, even more fun to give them, and fun to serve and give our wives a well-deserved break. So why did I space Mothers’ Day?

Unfortunately, I don’t know. I have no excuse, no matter how hard I’ve tried to come up with a good one.

Both I and my wife have been told repeatedly by friends and relatives what a good husband I am, and how they wished their husbands acted like I do. My wife, being the sweet woman that she is, never outwardly disagrees. (In fact, it’s even very possible that she agrees inwardly too, somehow.) Perhaps the purpose of this post is to try to help anyone reading this appreciate what they have. Because any time you see me or any other husband do or say something that you fancy as particularly sweet, I know it can be a temptation to wish your husband did the same. Fight the temptation! You know what to think instead?

“My husband didn’t forget Mothers’ Day.”

I don’t mean to lecture. I hope that’s now how this is coming across, though I fear it. The point is, I love my wife. She does more in a day than I could ever dream—and she does it on less sleep, with less appreciation, and with no rewards. She is raising two beautiful, smart, artistic and surprisingly level-headed daughters. What do I do with my time? I sit in front of a computer all day wishing I could be with her. And on one of the few days a year set aside specifically to show her how much I appreciate all she does, I don’t take advantage.

I’m sorry, babe. Please forgive me, though I know you already have. It won’t happen again. I love you.