I once had a co-worker who vented to me about how much she despised making lunch for her husband. She described making him a sandwich, pantomiming how she would slap the ingredients down and slam the sandwich halves together, all while muttering under her breath. It all looked rather violent to me. I remember thinking:
“Wow, I make my husband’s lunch every day, and it looks nothing like that.”
In fact, I enjoy making his lunch. Every day I put in a little note, telling him that I love him and that I can’t wait to see him when he gets home. I try to be creative with the notes, but eventually they do get a little monotonous (that’s life, isn’t it?). However, he doesn’t seem to mind. He’s told me that he really appreciates this little gesture. It takes about 30 seconds to do, and the reward is huge.
There was a period of a couple months where I just didn’t get around to making his lunches. It’s not complicated – a cheese sandwich and a half, an apple and some chips. That’s all. But it got to the end of the day and I wanted to crawl into bed much, much more than make a lunch. So Hub made them for himself. I felt guilty every time he did. Those lunches had come to be a representation of my love for him, and I was letting him do it himself? Shame!
Eventually I snapped out of it, and the pleasure that I get from this little act is delicious (pun intended). I know he appreciates it, even though it’s a small thing. I think it’s these little things which can help keep a marriage from slipping into entropy.
During the long day of work, my husband is able to have a lunch which was made by me, with love (not aggression), and read a little note which reminds him that I’m thinking about him and that I love him.
What are some little things that you do for your loved ones to remind them that you care?
Rivki Silver ~ thoughts & music 
does laundry count? and cleaning bathrooms?
when KoD is working from home i love baking him cookies and bring them to him fresh, with coffee…
those TOTALLY count (especially bathrooms)!
I bet KoD really appreciates those cookies and coffee. mmmmm. Now I have a craving…
What a nice simple gesture and good reminder to the rest of us!
Thanks! I’m glad that something I do can be (hopefully) useful!
My husband is a stickler for matched socks. If I remember to put together a pair before putting them in his drawer instead of just throwing in a bunch of mismatched ones, he genuinely appreciates it. He’s easy!
For some reason it is so hard to bring myself to make my lunch in the morning. The same goes with my wife. So, every morning, we sit down to breakfast and than make each other’s lunches. It would be just as easy to make our own but there is more love involved when you make it for someone else.
so sweet, Rivki!
@ midewestmama – you gotta love the easy hubby!
@ Yehuda – I love it! It’s like group motivation.
@ Shosh – thanks!
That’s so true! The little things you do make such a big difference.
Making a favorite supper, keeping the house clean and greeting him happily are all important little things that make a big difference.
Another thing – not texting while you are having a conversation or keeping away from any other things that bother him.
I love this! Cooking is one of my favorite things to do and one of the ways I express my love for friends and especially my family. I make my husband’s lunch every night, too, and since he is out of the house by 5:00 am, I normally write him a note at night that he will see in the morning to let him know how much we all love him and will miss him while he’s working.
I love what Yehuda said! That is so sweet! Everything tastes better when someone makes it with love! I also like what Devorah said about not texting while having a conversation, too. We have completely cut out being on the computer at night after the kids are in bed and it’s just us. That way, we give each other a lot more attention. I’m still working on that whole keeping the house clean thing. With two dogs, two cats and two kids, there always to be dust, pet hair or toys somewhere!