Last night I sat on the couch with a Sharpie marker labeling different items and placing them in a bag. All the children were asleep, and my husband and I utilized the quiet time together to work on different tasks left from the day, but mostly just relax together enjoying each other’s company. I felt a twinge of guilt over the favor I was about to ask since I seemed to always be asking for one.
My husband was a busy guy. He owned a local restaurant and that venture took much of his time, presence, and thought. I tried to make our home a place of rest for him, and I worked to assist from my end in any way I could. But the truth of the matter was that when he came home from work he shouldered just as much responsibility as me. He loved on our daughters, helped brush teeth, teach our girls to read, put them to bed, take the oldest to school in the morning, and so much more. The thought of asking him to do one more thing for me seemed like I was just adding more weight to his shoulders.
But suddenly he spoke kindly, “Do you have some things you need me to take to work with me tomorrow?”
“Yes, please,” I gushed with relief. “Thank you so much!”
“I never mind,” he answered sincerely, and I knew he was telling the truth.
I also ran a small business. I had a successful, direct sales business I ran from home, and as it had grown exponentially I often had several items I was giving away, samples for friends, or products to deliver. Since my plate was already full with small children and homeschooling my husband had let me use his business place as a common pickup spot for my customers. Many days he hauled a bag of skincare products to his restaurant, and aside from greeting his own customers, he also was a middle man for mine.
I knew this was just one more thing for an already busy man, but it was my thing, and as such he didn’t mind. My husband was my biggest supporter in my small business, and I knew without him I couldn’t do it at all. He often watched the girls while I did an event, or patiently understood the time I might spend on my phone. I had asked him once if he felt like I neglected my responsibilities as a wife or mother while running my business, and he was quick to answer no.
“I know that you’re doing it for us, and I support your why,” he had answered.
If I didn’t have his support I wouldn’t be able to do it, but it wasn’t just a small business that was affected. That was just one example.
When I decided to get healthy he was the one who had salad made with a new, natural dressing he had bought, waiting for me when I got home from work. Or the one who had bought me a new blender to make my protein shakes.
When I was tired he was the one who said, “Go take a nap.”
Or when I was visibly stressed the one who offered to watch the kids while I took an afternoon to myself. Heck, even if I wasn’t visibly stressed he’d take the girls to the mall for the day so I could decompress.
He had his own stress, his own busyness, his own business, but he didn’t let that blind him to mine. He saw me, and that was the biggest support of all. I know I couldn’t run a small business from home without his support, but I don’t think anything around here could run without the teamwork I get from my power partner in parenting and marriage. It certainly wouldn’t run as smoothly.
So this morning he headed out with coffee cup in hand, his business satchel over his shoulder, and a bag of Rodan + Fields in his hand. Seriously, what would I do without this guy? I don’t even want to think about it.
