Little Things To Brighten Her Day: Part 2

The underwear drawer mission was a success. Neither my wife nor our children caught me, so I didn’t face any awkward explaining. Before planting the chocolate, I had adorned the treat with a miniature decoration—a trimmed-down, bright yellow sticky note with a minute, hand-drawn heart.* Later, an empty wrapper appeared on her dresser confirming she had found the sweet. Since the candy had been consumed, I could only assume that she was pleased to find it. That assumption leads me to an important side note.

During this time of romantic pursuit, I have to keep my expectations in check. Some of the things I will attempt in order to win my wife’s affections will be helpful in said quest. Others may conclude with less success. Either way, I may receive positive feedback for the effort, or not. The key is that she feels loved and appreciated, not that she gives me big kudos for trying. Sure, we all long for that elusive pat on the back, but I must not be discouraged if it doesn’t come. I need to remain diligent regardless, doing the right thing because she deserves it.

The final weekday “filler” was a certificate for a foot massage. I used a random “cards & crafts” template that came standard on my computer and altered the format to dress it up. The finished version was printed on heavy stock paper, neatly trimmed, and discreetly tucked into a book that my wife is currently reading. She is simply nuts about this book and the way she has been pouring through it, I was sure she would discover the gift in a matter of days, if not hours. After three days had passed, I started dropping hints.
“Hey, are you going to take that book on your trip?”** I asked.
“Yes. But, if you’re interested in reading it, I can order a copy for you,” she replied.
“No. That’s OK… I can wait until you’re finished,” I said, hoping my inquiry didn’t sound too suspicious. She gave me a peculiar glance and then resumed her work. I decided to let the matter rest. Hopefully, she will discover the card in a few days and it will make her smile. After all, that’s supposed to be the point.



* I highly recommend some form of wrapping or signature with any hidden candy surprises. Otherwise, your wife may wrongly assume that your 4 year old is stealing and hiding the confections or beginning to develop OCD tendencies as exhibited by hoarding behavior. Remember, we’re trying to romance the wife, not cause unnecessary motherly anxiety.

** She’s going away for a restful, three-day retreat this week. This mini-spring break has been planned for awhile, so don‘t worry. She’s not leaving me or anything. She will return—she has assured me. Then again, the kids will be left with me and she has been packing an inordinate amount of clothes for such a short excursion. Better attach that homing device under the car. Thanks Radio Shack!