Do the hokey pokey????

Last night we did a wonderful thing with our 3 year old. We jumped up in the middle of the living room and did the hokey pokey. It was sweet and innocent and the highlight of both our day. It is amazing the fun our little man had seeing mommy and daddy actually doing the hokey pokey. It went much deeper that that however. Not only did we have fun with our son but we also showed him what a parent should be doing. His little brain is going to save that information up and one day he will jump up and do the hokey pokey with his kids. I thank my lucky stars for the woman in my life because she is on the same page with me and wants to show our kids what being a parent is all about. If you look at the statistics most parents that have problems had parents that had problems also. So our kids learn from us, so if you are not the best parent look deep in your soul then ask for help. Attend classes, read books, and break that cycles of how your parents treated you. Because there is nothing more wonderful then watching you partner play and enjoy your children.

Get pictures of the two of you!

One thing I notice when I go to other peoples houses is how few pictures they have of them as a couples. If they have kids you see many pictures of the kids on the wall and several of one partner with the children but if you do see a couples photo it is usually a professional one. Were are the pictures of the couple enjoying vacation together or just hugging on the couch. I suggest you start focusing on ways to get pictures together weather you ask strangers to take your pictures or teach your children to use the camera. With digital cameras now a days you can let the kids practice and then erase all the ones that are of your feet or just the top of your heads. Once you get the pictures you want then start posting them around your house as a reminder of how fun and important your relationship is.

Don't forget Mothers Day

Let me tell you this. A lot of women judge how you will treat them in a relationship by how you treat your mother. They feel like this was the main female figure in your life and how you treat her is how you treat women in general. Of coarse this is not always the case but showing if it is showing affection for your mother on Mothers Day works double. Not only to you make your mother feel special but you make your partner feel like she has made the right choice. A simple bouquet of flowers will do the trick, just make sure to pick up two of them. If you partner is also the mother of your children make sure to make a huge deal about it on mothers day make sure to make her feel as special as she is.

Sometimes being romantic is as simple as helping out.

You know we think of romance as acts we preform for our partner or the one we are dating. One thing that many people say that they find romantic is when the person they care about helps others out. No matter if it is volunteering at the homeless shelter or helping a young child tie their shoes. The affect of your kindness seems very romantic for the person watching these actions. Plus it is a wonderful just to do, so you are working your magic it two ways by aiding someone. No matter what others say helping out is romantic and it makes you look more attractive to everyones eyes.

Vacations

A important part of anyone's life is to put some vacation time into it. Time to not worry about work and concentrate on your relationship and your family. I like to look at this time as a reboot for the love. Getting away and experiencing new and exciting things gets you back in that mind set of when you were dating, only now you are sharing all the expense. Vacations can be relaxing, where you just sit by the pool and soak up the sun. They can also be invigorating where you experience as many new things as you can. You just have to find the right combination for the two of you. If you have children involved then you have to find the common denominator that makes everyone happy. Once you do this your vacation or reboot will keep you going until the next one. The last thing you want to do is let your vacation stress you, don't come home and need another vacation. Enjoy yourself and catch up with all the people that mean the most to your.

Surprise ME!

We all made Christmas list when we were younger and we still like to get things that we want this day and age. However, I think several people still miss the meaning behind the gift giving. This is a celebration of love and happiness. We get to show our loved ones that we care about them, the thing that really gets lost at this time of year is the old saying "It is the thought that counts" The price and item itself are not the important part of the season, we are not in competition. Get the idea out of your head that the size or cost of the gift tell you how much someone cares about you. You need to be thankful that you have someone in your life that cares enough to go out and purchase you something because they love or care about you. Understanding that just getting a gift is something several people would find extremely important and some people simply can't afford big expensive gifts. Remember being in love doesn't have to cost you. Another thing I like to caution people on is saying that Santa only brings presents to good boys and girls. There are several children out there that get nothing for Christmas and they aren't bad children. It might be a case of a parent getting laid off work or a family struggling to just pay their bills. Whatever the cause the children shouldn't be made to feel like they did something to desire no presents from the jolly man. A nice surprise might be to find out one of these families and either purchase items for them or go through some of your old things and find toys or clothes that would help them out. You might be amazed at how good you will feel by doing this.

Introduce you partner to your childhood

A fun and romantic thing to do is discuss the toys you had when you were growing up. Tell your partner about your favorite toys and how you use to play with them. Don't be ashamed I am sure the both of you have played with things you might have been embarrassed by in the past. This helps you partner get a inside look at the way you were raised. If all you played with was sports equipment then they will understand a little better why you love to play golf all the time now. If you had barbies and had a hundred outfits for them they might understand why you closet is so full now. Believe me you will see some correlation between the past and the present. Give it a try tonight.

Set in a different chair tonight!

Most people in a relationship have a very normal routine. You most likely sit in the same place every time you eat dinner or watch television. Well tonight mix it up a little and surprise you partner by sitting in a different chair at both dinner and while you watch some television. Not only will this break the monotony of your normal routine, but it will make you look at your partner in a different view. You can always switch back to your normal sittings tomorrow but for tonight let it ride. You might even be able to make a game out of it do a form of musical chairs where everyone sits in their normal spot and then someone yells change and everyone finds a different chair. If you have children they will love it. This function might just get you thinking outside the box and get you to try other things you might not try otherwise.

The Welcome Home Kiss

I know this may seem silly but do you give your partner a welcome home kiss every time they come home. Overkill, maybe but in talking with some people that lost a partner in a car accident or work related accident, I hear some resounding statements. "If I could have only kissed them one more time" or "I wish I would have told them I loved them one more time" are two I hear a lot. You never know what is going to happen, you just always assume that everything will be okay and normal. To me however I would better be safe then sorry. Sure no one wants to think morbid thoughts or plan for the worse. A kiss, hug, or special I love you, to me doesn't seem like that big of stretch? I mean if you can't do those things with your partner on an everyday basis then maybe their is more problems in your relationship then you think.

Starting today I want you to get in a routine of kissing your partner goodbye and hello. No they don't have to be a movie kiss, just a smooch on the lips (Not on the cheek, that's how you kiss your parents), followed by a quick I love you. Nothing more nothing less, then go about your business. Not only is this good for your relationship but it is great for your children to see and participate in. Most people have no problem doing this with their children why would it be difficult with your partner?

The family that loves together. (Click in this Title to got to the Free Hugs Campaign Site)

In our quest to have the greatest relationship in the world we sometimes forget that part of our love involves our families. We tend to shy away from some of the things that have helped set our love in stone. Do you know anyone that has trouble getting close to their partner or someone who has self esteem problems? Well, most likely that has stemmed from events in their childhood. Whether it was from an overbearing parent, an alcoholic parent, emotional abuse or physical abuse it can create a monster that may secretly rear its ugly head. A lot of times relationship problems are bred from these memories of youth, and it can take a lot of energy to get over them. With the help of a caring partner it is possible, but this is not my point.

As we set our relationships in motion we are not just facilitating a better state for ourselves, we are affecting the future relationships of our children. If we cannot get over our dysfunctions, our children may be destined to repeat our inadequacies. To help prevent that it is time for us to get our relationships in order and get our family on the loving train. You have to start by showing your children it is okay to be in love and not just for a day, but for a lifetime. You have to explain to them how to put the other person first and how to share. Make sure they know that feelings are important and that caring isn't something to be ashamed off. Let them see you kiss and hug, hold hands as you walk with them and most important show them how to be a rock when someone is having a hard time. I realize that every child won't respond the same to these actions, but you are giving them a great head start on having their own relationships.

Don't stop there. Maybe it's not too late for your parents? Do the same things around them as we have just mentioned above. Maybe you could rekindle something in them that they haven't had in a long time. Show them that your relationship is strong and you’re making it stronger every day. If your parents have a great relationship, then maybe you should be taking notes as you watch them. Family love is a gene, and it can be passed down from generation to generation, but unlike DNA this is one genetic gift you can change if you don't have the right combination. It may take some therapy or even sacrifice on your part, but it will be worth it.