I have recently dealt with some really unpleasant people. People who, when they did not get their way, yelled at me. It's actually happened three times recently. And all three times, the rude people were men. One guy had the nerve to yell at me because I asked him to drive more slowly down our street, where upwards of 30 children were outside playing. Not only did he get upset, but he pulled his car over, got out, and came and got in my face.
Make no mistake. I can handle these people just fine. I actually take some strange sense of pride in remaining unruffled by their childish behavior, and watching them de-escalate based on what I say to them. It's really not much different than behavior management in my elementary school classroom... it's just the boys are pretending to be men. But here's what all this has done for me. It's reinforced for me what a remarkable man I married.
We had a really special time while he was home. Of course we had our initial bumps. It's hard to jump back into family life when your family life has found a new kind of normal. Also, the things you disagreed on 8 months ago, you will probably still disagree on. You're still a Democrat, he's still a Republican. The Lakers and the Celtics are still rivals. You still don't mind 100 kids from the neighborhood in and out of the house, he just might.
But I love this man. I love that everything I have asked him to bend or compromise on, he has tried to. He has strong opinions, as do I. We have a blended family. We're raising teenagers and kids with special needs. We have ex-spouses to deal with. We're in the Army. There is a lot for us to butt heads over. And believe me, we do. But at the end of the day, it's me and him, making it all work. I've said it before- I have an immense respect for the man he has chosen to be. I listen to him pray for our children, give thanks for our marriage, and ask me for my input on so many things, and I know that he is genuinely good. It's an easy contrast to make from a man who yells at you because your child bounces a basketball too loudly near his window. My husband is remarkable, and even though I realize I'm probably being a little extra emotional because I miss him so much, I also don't think my feelings come as a surprise to anyone. I really love him.
6 comments:
AH!!!! What a fantastic, awesome, perfect picture of your man! I love it so much. Wonderful post. It is no small thing to be married to a man of honor and character. I will thank God for that.
I hope to meet his remarkable man in person someday! I love reading about happy marriages like yours, especially when there are so few of them these days. Thanks for helping me believe that perhaps my turn will come someday.....but if not... I am still a happy camper. Well, not a camper, I hate camping, but you get the idea.
I hope to meet his remarkable man in person someday! I love reading about happy marriages like yours, especially when there are so few of them these days. Thanks for helping me believe that perhaps my turn will come someday.....but if not... I am still a happy camper. Well, not a camper, I hate camping, but you get the idea.
Check him out!! You are one lucky girl that is for sure! This was so heartfelt I teared up a tiny bit :) You guys are an amazing couple. One for the books, that's for sure.
Awesome picture. You deserve a man that good.
And I kind of laugh that those men thought they could take you on.
Great googly moogly, he is handsome...er...uh...I meant my husband...*ahem*...okay...that's a lie, my husband is very handsome, but I happened to be talking about yours.
Such a wonderful post, Andrea. He is such a great man, inside and out. I am so happy that you two have each other.
That picture is FANTASTIC.
The fact that you can remain unruffled by childish behavior and cause de-escalation with your wording is TRULY admirable. I just burst into tears...of course, that sometimes makes people back down but then I feel like a blithering idiot.
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