i couldn''t believe it

[Smurfysmiles]

SO thanked me for cleaning!

that''s like getting flowers for me, i couldn''t believe it and i wanted to share lol

 

[Sapphire_Cutie]

aww...thats so cute lol. its nice to be recognised and appricated for the lil things you do once in a while.

 

[Patiently_Waiting]

Ditto to what Sapphire Cutie said - really cute and sweet of him to notice and let you know of his appreciation. The little things mean so much

 

[Mediterranean]

Yaaay!!! What a cool little surprise! Make it a habit: compliment something nice that he usually does without expecting thanks. I swear, the longer I live, the more I''m convinced that it really is the little things that keep people in love with each other.

 

[sandia_rose]

I think that''s very sweet! I agree with Mediterranean - it IS the little things that keep love alive. It''s very important to know that the little things you do, or the things you do "just to be nice" are noticed and valued by someone else.

Last year, my son''s teacher sent home copies of a "book" that the kids put together called "Why My Mom Is The Best Mom." Each page had a picture of the kid with their words as to why their mom was the best one and the kid''s rendition of what their mom looks like. My son wrote, "My Mom is the best because she makes me baloney sandwiches and lets me wear her Metallica t-shirt to bed." And he drew a stick-figure me with wild orange hair. My son''s favorite thing to eat in the world is baloney, and he is beyond appreciative when I make him a simple sandwich. It''s funny and touching how he''ll thank me and grin ear to ear eating it. And he fell in love with my circa 1984 Ride The Lightning tour shirt. I can never replace it, but it means more to me to watch my son walking around wearing it like he is the tallest man in the world and being ever-so-careful with it when he wears it. He walks around like a little king in it, and I like that letting him wear it is that special to him.

And it means a lot to me when my Not A Morning Person BF brings me coffee in bed so I don''t have to get up and hit the cold wood bedroom floor to get it myself. He and I have had our issues of late (as you all know), but it does make me think when he does the "just because" stuff for no reason.

Bridget in Connecticut..

 

[Keepingthefaith21]

Very cute that he noticed!

It definately is the small things. The other day my SO told me the house smelled really nice. For me that is one of the biggest compliments he could have given. We have a cocker and because he is so darn mean we have to have him groomed with one groomer and she can only take him on a day when she can come in early so our dog isn''t around other dogs. So, needless to say, there are times when he goes awhile between grooming and stinks! One of my biggest fears is having a house that smells like a dog.

Yesterday he suggested we go out to dinner tonight (a new resturant opened in our town and I''ve been wanting to try it out). I was a little shocked because typically we only eat out on Friday nights and I said as much. He then said, "well, you have been cooking a lot lately when you get home from work and I thought it would be nice for you to have a break for TWO weeknights instead of just Friday." I melted.

 

[sklingem]

Not to be a downer here - but isn''t it a bit sad that one has to become ecstatic over things that really should be part of a "normal" positive relationship?? Guess there is a lot of progress to be made ... reinforcing positive behavior is a must ... hope you TOLD him how much you appreciated his comments

 

[choro72]

This is so cute that I had to chuckle...

 

[sandia_rose]

Date: 4/3/2008 4:20:48 PM
Author: Keepingthefaith21
Very cute that he noticed!

It definately is the small things. The other day my SO told me the house smelled really nice. For me that is one of the biggest compliments he could have given. We have a cocker and because he is so darn mean we have to have him groomed with one groomer and she can only take him on a day when she can come in early so our dog isn't around other dogs. So, needless to say, there are times when he goes awhile between grooming and stinks! One of my biggest fears is having a house that smells like a dog.

Not to thread-jack, but you want to try something I found as a remedy for stinky dog? Parsley. Plain old grocery store fresh parsley. You grind it up in a food processor and put it in the dog's food. Immediately, this will sweeten the dog's breath. And over a period of weeks, it will sweeten the dog itself. One of my BF's friend's dogs had evil breath. We're talking beyond Darth Vader evil. And he was stinky in that "doggy" way. And it was sad, because he's this cute terrier mix that wants to jump on you and lick you, and you're, like, "Eew! Go AWAY!!!"

I study herbal medicine as a hobby and told Brian (the friend) that he should try parsley. Its use began in Arab countries as a primative dental aid -- lore says that it can sweeten the breath of a camel. Something in the parsley is a natural deodorant -- and it works for people, too. If you have, say, onion or garlic or cigarette breath, chew parsley. It works QUICK and is 100% safe.

If your dog gets greasy between grooms, you can also brush his coat with baking soda and sprinkle it in his bed if he has one. That will also help neutralize smell. I put it in my running sneakers and they stay tolerable.

Bridget in Connecticut.

 

[Smurfysmiles]

Date: 4/3/2008 4:40:01 PM
Author: rob09
Not to be a downer here - but isn''t it a bit sad that one has to become ecstatic over things that really should be part of a ''normal'' positive relationship?? Guess there is a lot of progress to be made ... reinforcing positive behavior is a must ... hope you TOLD him how much you appreciated his comments

well my SO is the strong but silent type. I know he appreciates me but it is pretty rare for him to voice it, i compliment him all the time but that is just my nature He doesn''t have to say it, just coming up behind me while I''m doing the dishes and kissing me tends to get the point across too haha

sandia that is so cute about your son

 

[monarch64]

Date: 4/4/2008 7:17:50 PM
Author: Smurfysmiles

Date: 4/3/2008 4:40:01 PM
Author: rob09
Not to be a downer here - but isn''t it a bit sad that one has to become ecstatic over things that really should be part of a ''normal'' positive relationship?? Guess there is a lot of progress to be made ... reinforcing positive behavior is a must ... hope you TOLD him how much you appreciated his comments

well my SO is the strong but silent type. I know he appreciates me but it is pretty rare for him to voice it, i compliment him all the time but that is just my nature He doesn''t have to say it, just coming up behind me while I''m doing the dishes and kissing me tends to get the point across too haha

sandia that is so cute about your son

I don''t care if it''s a "bit sad" that sometimes we are happy about being thanked for the small things that are typically taken for granted...in my world (and most of my and DH''s friends'' worlds) any household chores go without being acknowledged--and that goes for the guys'' work outdoors as well--so it IS nice to hear "thanks" once in a while. I agree with positive reinforcement on anyone''s part, of course. I''m glad you posted about this, Smurfy, I read your other thread about you and your SO''s issues but never responded...I think you are on the right track and I wish you the best!

 

[Smurfysmiles]

he cooked supper tonight too...i mean it was just ramen noodles but at least i didnt have to cook haha

 

[monarch64]

Hey, rome wasn''t built in a day, right? Just keep encouraging him, don''t throw any pouty fits (as much as you''d like to), and keep those lines of communication open. Good for him, and for you for accepting and acknowledging his positive behavior!