I enjoyed entertainment by a comedian on Saturday. We were just about rolling in the floor because of his antics. He gave so many examples of raising children that struck our funny bones that we wondered if maybe he had once lived with us. He also told a story that got me thinking. You may or may not have heard about Larry Walters, a 33-year-old man who decided he wanted to see his neighborhood from a new perspective.

Larry went about achieving his dream in an unconventional way but he was able to see his neighborhood from up in the clouds. You might want to check out his story by searching the terms Larry Walters and lawn chair. It is an odd and enlightening story. He got into trouble with the authorities but said that he felt it was worth the fines and hassles. When asked why he pulled his stunt, he replied, “you can’t just sit there.”

I wouldn’t recommend putting your life in danger but there are times when you have to step out of your comfort zone to keep your relationship with your spouse fresh and exciting. Spontaneity might surprise you. Do you think you would like to try to catch a fish? Would you enjoy ballroom dancing? There are times when we should do things just because we shouldn’t just sit there.

How NOT to spoil your husband:

10. Dump all the day’s problems at his feet the moment he walks in the door from work.
9. Whip his butt in arm wrestling.
8. Whip his butt in chess.
7. Know the football teams and their stats better than he.
6. Joke with your girlfriends about his nighttime intestinal problems… while he’s in the room.
5. Win every argument (or say that you win every argument).
4. Buy him a pink polo shirt and sulk when he refuses to wear it.
3. Wear flannel to bed.
2. Tell him repeatedly that he’s getting bald.

And now for the #1 way how not to spoil your husband….

1. Say “Oh, you again” when it’s “frisky” time.

OK, that was all in good jest, but you know that all things humorous have an element of truth to them! Stay tuned– I’ll be back with the Top Ten list with ways that you can actually spoil the big guy!

I asked my eleven year old son, if he had an assignment in school to write about how he would spoil me, he replied that first he would ask me what my “perfect day” would be, and then he would help me do whatever that was. Isn’t that sweet?

So then, of course, I set about thinking what I think would constitute a perfect day. I would enjoy waking up and going out for a full breakfast (good coffee, cheese omelet, fluffy pancakes or belgian waffles, crispy bacon, more coffee), followed by a long browse at the bookstore, then catching a matinee movie before heading home for an uninterrupted nap and then a good dinner. I also really enjoy taking road trips with my family. Packing up the van after breakfast, with a thick magazine to read on the way and heading to a park or a zoo, that’s a perfect way to spend a beautiful Spring day.

If you want to spoil someone and you aren’t sure where to begin, try asking them! Ask them to describe their idea of a perfect day, and then do your best to make it happen. Of course, if your husband is like mine and his answer to that question is “having peace and quiet for a whole day”, you might have to spend his perfect day out of the house! Putting together a whole day of favorite activities can be a great way to make someone feel like they are getting spoiled.

Mothers spend their days working hard for their families. Some work outside the home while others spend their days with their children. Either way, moms are doing everything they can to create a comfortable home for their spouse and kids and mold their children into strong, independent human beings. Being a mom is a year-round, 24/7 job with little to no time off for vacation, personal days or sick leave. Even so, the benefits of being a mom are too numerous to count.

As an adult, I find it very rewarding to find the perfect Mother’s Day gift for my mom. I know her tastes, her likes and dislikes, and can afford to purchase gifts that I am confident she will enjoy. But, how can young children make the day just as special for their mom? With Dad’s help of course!

Moms of young children don’t necessarily want or need expensive gifts (although they certainly won’t turn those down) to make them feel appreciated. Simple things can make a Mother’s Day special. Simple things like breakfast in bed, a foot massage, and my personal favorite, home made cards and gifts from the kids. Once I received a framed piece of my daughter’s artwork as a gift and it’s still one of my most cherished gifts.

With dad’s help, children can help with cooking the day’s meals. Having a day off from the daily duties of housekeeping and cooking and simply being given time to just relax for the day can make any mom of any age feel extraordinary. Kids can perform many duties around the house such as sweeping, dusting and making a bed. Will it be up to mom’s standards? Of course not. Will mom appreciate the effort? Absolutely!

With some effort on dad’s part the kids will be allowed to feel like they’ve been a significant part of that special day with very little expense. Mother’s Day; a day for everyone to feel special.

Recently, I ran across a blog where the writer was impressed by the fact that her husband had written “I Love You” in the mildew on their deck. I think she may have been more impressed that he was going to clean said mildew off the deck but who am I to say? There are so many ways to say I love you.

One of the ways my husband lets me know that I am special is when he tiptoes around the bedroom to try and let me sleep. This was not always the case. When we first married he would flip the overhead light on and declare it was time to get up. That habit was changed quickly. My favorite hobby is sleeping and if he wants a non-cranky wife he had better ensure me a good night of sleep. We took turns getting up when our children were babies and needed us during the night. That was unless vomit was involved. I dealt better with that and unless I wanted a bigger mess, I dealt with that crises. Marriage is a give and take proposition. He gives and I take. Just kidding!

There have been many nights that I have become engrossed in the latest Harry Potter book and it means the world to me to be able to leave my night stand light on without someone making sighing noises. My heros, Harry Potter and my hubby. Going to sleep with a good book and getting to sleep in. True love.

“You have ravished my heart with one look of your eyes, with one link of your necklace. How fair is your love…” Song of Songs 4:9, 10

When I was a kid growing up in the 70s, there was a television advertising blitz of “greatest songs” albums. Those old TV ads were something like the Ronco Ginsu knife– actually, I think the same guy narrated both kinds of commercials! There was the ad for “Greatest Disco Songs of 1978,” “Greatest All-Time Favorite Polka Hits,” and “Greatest Piano Solos by Liberace.” As a burgeoning young lass at the tender age of 14, my favorite was “Greatest Love Songs of Soft Rock.” My favorite song was, and still is, “You’re the Only Woman” by Ambrosia. The lead singer’s silky smooth voice swept over my heartstrings and literally left me swooning. The song is still one of my favorite songs, and makes me do crazy things! From time to time I ask my husband to sing it to me. (In case you’re wondering, asking him to sing is not the crazy thing I’m referring to). I’ll take the liberty of quoting the most thrilling part of the song:

When the pain of love surrounds you
And the world may be unkind
I’ll put my lovin’ arms around you
Take you far from this place and time

Because you and I’ve been in love too long
To worry ’bout tomorrow
Here’s a place where we both belong
I know you’re the only woman that I’m dreamin’ of
You’re the only woman that I really love

More than the softly sung words and gentle lull of soft rock, it was the meaning of the song that got to me: you’re the only one.

Every woman wants to be the only one to her man. Adversely, this is summed up in that proverb, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” There’s some truth to that! Women are emotional, affectionate creatures. We need to feel loved, and we revel in your undivided attention. Gifts, goodies, and flowers are so wonderful, but it’s more meaningful when they come accompanied with warm kisses, googly-eyes of love, and the assurance that you, man, can’t live without your woman. So if you want to spoil your girl, make her the only one. You’ll have her wrapped around your finger if you do.