It’s About Making Babies!

NML writes on Baggage Reclaim about 11 maintenance rules for a new relationship. I find the list worth considering, for new and existing relationships.

“6. Get to know each other, not just your body parts” sounds particulary important. Some years ago a comedienne lamented about couples splitting because they ‘weren’t compatible’, that they forgot what got them together, ‘lust in the loins’. The line was touching and poignant, and still is today. If I remember correctly, one performance was captured on the ‘Ladies of the Night’ CD.

“6. Get to know each other, not just your body parts” I grew up, way back when, with a trivet hanging on many of my neighbor’s walls, ‘Kissin’ Don’t Last / Cookin’ Do’. Now, I have to believe that kissing and hugging and getting laid has been going on for many years. And some of the things that my parents and grand-parents learned are still true today. That is, to make a house, you have to be more than a role-model.

Cooking, cleaning, sewing, etc. used to be how a wife showed her care and love for her home and family. Today we have other signals to show our attention is at home, and our regard is for each other. We have many more examples of healthy communication, we have a better grounding in education, and access to people (counselors, ministers, etc.) to help us build a relationship, build character, and do both at the same time.

But spend more time looking at the smile, at hearing the emotions in the voice, and listening to the character in the words.