Historically,
I’ve been known to drop the ball on Valentine’s Day.
If I’m
lucky, I’ll remember to stop at the flower shop on the way home from work. If I
totally space on the occasion, I make an evening run to the gas station or
grocery store.
It’s not
that I don’t appreciate my wife; she’s amazing in all kinds of ways. I just
have a little trouble buying into the whole Valentine’s Day concept and all the
protocols that come along with it
This year,
instead of flowers, chocolates, or a fancy dinner, I decided to share a short
list of things I appreciate most about the mother of my children and the woman
I’ve been married to for nearly six years. Here’s hoping this article is
received as a romantic gesture and not a totally inappropriate ‘overshare.’
1.
She’s an incredible mother. From the time we
started dating back in the early 2000s, Amanda was excited to start her own
family. Now we have a three-year-old, a two-year-old and another mystery baby on
the way in just a few weeks. She’s a caring, nurturing, committed mom and our
kids go to bed each night knowing they are truly loved.
2.
She’s tough. You wouldn’t guess it by looking at
her, but Amanda is strong in more ways than one. In addition to caring for two
rambunctious kids and growing another one inside her, she also works part time
and keeps our household functioning.
3.
She’s kind-hearted. Amanda is compassionate and
sympathetic to the point where tragic stories about perfect strangers (or even
animals) cause her to well up with tears. It’s one of my very favourite things
about her.
4.
She’s exceptionally beautiful. My buddies
frequently remind me that I have a much hotter wife than I deserve. A former
colleague once told me that I ‘out-punted the coverage’ when I convinced Amanda
to marry me; he’s probably right.
5.
She’s thoughtful. In our house, no milestone goes uncelebrated.
She makes sure everyone gets to feel special on birthdays and other special
occasions. When our three-year-old requested a tractor birthday cake last year,
she didn’t think twice about spending hours and hours slaving in the kitchen to
fulfill his wish. With her every word and action, Amanda reminds everyone in
our house each and every day how well she knows us and how much she loves us.
The list
could go on, but the non-romantic readers are probably starting to feel a
little nauseous if they’ve continued reading to this point. I’m not usually one
to get all sappy, but I know Amanda will enjoy reading this, cutting it out of
the newspaper and tucking it away in her little box of memories and keepsakes.
Hopefully I
remember to pick up some flowers in time this Valentine’s Day, but if not, my
wife should have no doubts about how much she is loved and appreciated.
Leo is a former Advocate editor. Contact him by email at newsdeadline@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LeoPare
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