Michele left a comment on the article I wrote about bringing my mom home with me to the effect “but at least you can take consolation in the fact that you have a great partner in Wayne.” She might have said this because in my article I explained how he was the one who first proposed bringing my mom to live with us before I even had a chance to ask him about it.
A truer statement has never been made. Wayne is an amazing partner. And I think that’s such a key word. We are truly a team. We appreciate each other’s weaknesses and strengths and the fact his strengths compliment my weaknesses and vice versa.
But it’s times like these, when the chips are down, the future’s uncertain, and life just got a whole lot scarier that I’m reminded just how awesome he is. He’s right there asking me what I need from him. I can’t help but fall in love with him all over again.
Offering to move his mother-in-law in was generous enough, and my mom was humbled and moved by his enthusiasm. But she was brought to tears when we walked through the door Sunday afternoon.
Wayne, in his usual fashion, went above and beyond to honor our homecoming. With the help of Murphy and the cats he concocted a “Welcome Home!” display complete with signs, streamers, and a bouquet of flowers.
That smiling lady in the picture is my mom. She hasn’t always loved Wayne. When we first started going together almost 22 years ago, when I was merely 15, she didn’t approve of our relationship at all.
But over the years, Wayne’s proved himself to be a rare breed of not just man but person in general. His is a heart that loves to help and he’s always brought out the best in me. She had no choice but to fall a little in love with him herself once she realized he was brimming with such goodness. The “Welcome Home!” display just reinforced it all.
And I had no idea he was going to do that. It was truly all his idea and came as much of a surprise to me as it did to my mom.
Maybe it shouldn’t have. He’s always wonderful and creative with his displays of affection. But the last few weeks have been hard on him as well. Work is busier than ever and the almost two weeks I was gone he was working until 10 or 12 at night (sometimes even later), then having to rush home and take care of the animals and my other household duties before rushing off to work again at 7 a.m. He’s suffering from severe lack of sleep and tight deadlines that leave him little to no free time.
Yet, he made the time to make us feel welcome. It’s as important to him that my mom understands she’s not the burden she fears she’ll be as it is to me. Michele is right. Wayne’s a great partner and this brings me great consolation indeed.
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