A couple of months ago I read an article called What the Happiest Couples Do Before Breakfast, where writer Alisa Bowman shares morning rituals of eight different couples.
As moms, we all know what an impact our moods every morning have on the kids, so I liked the idea of being more purposeful in my first daily interactions with my husband as well.
So I noticed that a few mornings a week, I have just enough time to sneak Ryan a bite of breakfast right before he gets out of bed. It’s nothing fancy, maybe a bowl of oatmeal or a slice of toast, that I hand to him with a quick smooch before heading back to those perpetually hungry kids of ours.
Although I know he appreciates the gesture, I’ve noticed that the bigger difference is actually in how I feel. By taking two minutes to do something for him in the morning, I remember that it all started with the two of us, and I feel like we’re on the same team again.
Do you have any little morning rituals with your spouse?
My man works out each morning and we both rise before our children. I love those sleepy-silly minutes before the rest of the house is stirring. I putter around in my robe while we both brush teeth then start our day with a kiss. One of us lets the pooch out for his duty while the other gets the dog’s treat. I quickly apply makeup, but skip the lipstick until after we enjoy a long smooch before I go wake up the children and set them about their morning business. We snuggle for a few more seconds when I return to dress and he begins to exercise.
It doesn’t seem like much, but these touch-points begin our day on the same team and then we move into dual realities of our roles, jobs and demands of the day. My guy doesn’t eat breakfast – at all.
That DOES sound like a lot to me! So sweet. And my guy doesn’t eat breakfast either, except on the days I deliberately bring it to him. Then he doesn’t mind 🙂 (I, on the other hand, never skip a meal!)
Feeling on the same team is so crucial! I love the little gesture.
It’s right on point that I’m reading this tonight. My husband just started a new full-time job (before he was at home with me, with the kids working on school full-time)….and he also does business school, now part-time…so I feel like our time together has just gone from 100% to 10%. Small gestures accumulate, like a drop in the bucket – it gets filled up. So this week, I’ve paid extra attention to how I communicate my “I love you’s” – with more actions, like making a special lunch, laying out clothing, email note… and not taking our small moments for granted. 🙂
I love how you noticed YOUR attitude was the one to really change. 🙂 I’ve never really had a strong morning routine with my hubby, mainly because his schedule varies day to day and he doesn’t eat breakfast. But (before this baby) I was making an effort to make him a cup of tea on the mornings he worked at home, as I was making one for myself anyway. That’s a habit I’ve sort of picked up from him… he’ll often make me a salad or a cup of tea or whatever it is that he is having. It doesn’t require tons of effort, but it’s still thoughtful and appreciated!