The Importance of Appreciation

On Sunday, I woke and started cleaning, washed all the linens, prepared for the week, and played with my daughter. I made a huge dent in Mt. DirtyClothes and even hung my curtains in my bedroom.

On Monday, I got up and started my morning routine. I had left my clothes on the ironing board and my hubby had ironed them. I loaded up the car, woke up the kid, dressed and started my 45 minute commute sans the DVD player that was left in my hubby’s car.

My phone rings. It was hubby checking in making sure I was up and moving on Monday. As we are getting off the phone he adds, “By the way, YOUR WELCOME.”
I immediately spit back “For what?” He answers “I iiiirrrroooonnnneeeddd your clothes this morning”.

Livid does not begin to describe my initial emotional reaction. What about all my Thanks You’s? What about thanking me for making sure there is food in the fridge every night, or a thanks for clean clothes, making the bed every morning, picking up Addie so he can go and play volleyball? What about my thank you for loading and unloading the dishwasher, ironing his uniforms, and making sure we stay stocked with the necessities of life like toilet paper, diapers, and fudgesicles? I let my anger grow and grow. I was planning on a full domestic strike. (Let the bathroom funk build up until it was completely unsanitary, pile the dishes in the sink, let Mt. DirtyClothes build up until you could no longer access the laundry room.)

Then something happened. I thought how nice it would be if someone did tell me they appreciated all the small stuff I do everyday. Not only at home, but at work, and in play activities. Yet, I do not always thank people. Do I think I am entitled to certain things? I should thank people. I was mad at my husband because he wanted recognition….that is all I wanted too, but instead of asking for it I was letting it breed hostility and anger inside of me. So I decided to start thanking people. Honestly thanking them. I will thank me husband for all the small things he does and hopefully it will be contagious. If not, I will probably be one of those women who “accidentally” runs over her husband four or five times.