But I have to pause to remember the other little things that I do for those I love, not because I agree with, or like, or want to; not because doing that thing gives me any type of personal pleasure; not because I would choose to do that thing myself if the loved one was not involved. But, simply because I love them. Things like:
- Support him in scouts (those who know, know).
- Visit her while she's working in the Taco booth at Witchapalooza.
- Go to Urgent Care when her knuckle is a little too swollen.
- Mow the lawn.
- Schedule an MMA lesson.
- Go to hundreds of horse shows, and volleyball games, and track meets, and basketball games, and drum lessons, and soccer games, and baseball games, and vocal coaching, and concerts, and plays, and school programs.
- Soak his shirts because the stains didn’t come out the first time through.
- Run a warm bubble bath to help his sick little body feel better.
- Let them out, and then back in, and then back out.
- Make dinner.
- Buy anniversary wine.
- Fold their laundry.
- Do their nights of dishes so they can be with friends.
- Spend more money and time and energy than I have to spare on fund raisers, school supplies, hobbies, whims, and outings.
- Miss them.
- Send them on trips to somewhere awesome – sometimes without me.
- Take them for a walk because they’ve been cooped up all day.
- Buy a cute shirt because it looks like something he or she would like to wear.
- Remind them to do their homework.
- Ask him on a date night.
- Pick up my clothes when I’m too tired to.
- Make him a dog-food milkshake and hold him upright while he eats so he can have a decent meal.
- Get up with them at 2:00 in the morning because they can’t sleep, don’t feel well, need help with something, need to go outside, or forgot to do an assignment.