When my hubby and I first got married, he was rather sweet and romantic, with nice words and romantic gestures.

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Because the romance disappeared about, oh, 11 years ago, we try to get away for a few days without kids every six months or so.

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But in between, hubby has taken to giving me signals.  Signals like raising his eyebrows, winking, and grabbing at me as I run past him, while he winks and raises his eyebrows.

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I recently told him that I don’t appreciate these gestures.  That I would much prefer nice compliments, kind heartfelt words or a hug, instead of an ass squeeze while I’m peeling potatoes.

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So now he is trying.  Occasionally he forgets and returns to his pervy construction worker looks and catcalls, but he is trying.  Now he stands and looks at me for several seconds before he opens his mouth, no doubt afraid that the wrong word will slip out and get him into trouble.  Then he says something ridiculous like, “I’m just admiring your beauty”.  When I scowl at him, he looks really confused.

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Sometimes I just love  being a woman.

Yes, I really did give birth to five children in 6 years and surface to write about it.  I take them everywhere, usually by myself (hubby works a lot to support us!), and as a result often receive comments from the people I encounter.  Most are nice comments and only one comment has ever offended me.

The comments that I receive are pretty typical like ‘you’ve got your hands full’, and my favourite is a simple ‘God bless you’, because we can all benefit from good wishes and I certainly feel blessed.  But the most offensive I have heard which did/does make my hair stand up on the back of my neck, is ‘better you than me’.  Now.  When I am walking with two little ones in a shopping cart, and three slightly older ones walking beside me, I take this as an insult.  Frankly, I could care less if you don’t want five children, you are not me, and to be honest, I never planned on five kids myself.  But they are all mine, and I love each of them more than I ever thought possible.  And even though I threaten to return them to the orphanage whenever they are misbehaving (hellooo therapy!), I never regret any of them even for an instant.

So when I hear the comment, ‘better you than me,’ I look into the beautiful, sweet faces of my five wonderful children, and I firmly respond, ‘I absolutely agree!!!’