This morning I stood before the bathroom sink rubbing moisturizer on my face. Fresh out of the bath, but not feeling fresh. Actually, not feeling anything but exhausted. I did sleep last night, right? I was 52 weeks pregnant, okay, make that 30, but I might as well have been as pregnant as a whale. That’s certainly how I felt.
My face was starting to swell, my breasts were taking on a scary size and shape, and my belly was growing so large it just didn’t even look cute anymore. My feet hurt, my inner thighs ached, and I noticed my gums had started to bleed. I could hear the children playing wildly in the living room, tossing couch cushions in their wake, and I grimaced at the thought of helping them clean up that disaster.
My husband still slept soundly in our bedroom with the door closed. It was his one day he had that privilege, and as I thought of him laying there alone it came to me.
You should go lay beside him, my inner voice whispered.
Then my mind was bombarded with a few hundred reasons not to.
The kids will destroy the place, probably set it on fire.
I’m in a hurry. I gotta finished getting ready, then get the kids ready.
Maybe when I’m feeling a little more sexy. I just feel puffy, not pretty.
Even if I wasn’t puffy and pregnant, tired and sore, I could still find about a billion distractions that pulled me away from a private moment with my mate. There’s always work to do, needs of the children that must be met, and tons of other things demanding my attention. Always responsibilities, chores, and such. Or sometimes I’m just not feeling it, and I may think, next time. Later on.
But later is a tricky timeframe in life. As a busy mom and woman there’s always something vying for my time. Always a reason to not cuddle. To not, whatever.
But this morning I stopped mid beauty routine, and I went to my husband. I heaved my heavy midsection onto the bed, and I scooted closer to his sleeping body. I slipped my arm across his stomach, laid my head on his chest, and breathed in the remnants of yesterday’s cologne.
This is wonderful. I thought, and I wondered why I almost neglected to do it.
Life is busy. Crazy, hectic actually. And some days you don’t feel your loveliest. You might even feel very far from it. Time will always be an issue in today’s fast spinning world, but time well spent with those you love cannot be earned back. Once the moment has passed, it’s gone. And as I cuddled beside the man I absolutely adored I knew this was a moment I didn’t want to let go. Rather it was one I wanted to cherish.
Cuddles cultivate a relationship. Sweet kisses kindle the marriage fire. Intimate experiences draw you together in a beautiful way, and strengthen the lover’s bond.
So I always choose to cuddle, even when I think I don’t feel like it, because as I rest my body against his I realize its what’s been missing. It’s what I needed all along.