Grandma Mac Love

We have been reading the Five Love Languages.

I know, I know sounds a bit cheesy but it's really a great book.  I recommend it to all couples.  The basic premise is that people feel love in different ways.  And that the easiest way to make your partner feel loved is to show them through their own language.  The challenge is to remember your partner's love language and apply it.  We both struggle with this as we fall into our ruts.

Love Language #1- Words of Affirmation- Compliments, words of appreciation, positive communication. (BOB)

Love Language #2- Receiving Gifts- Does not have to be over the top gifts. Could be a sticky note with a heart on it. But a token of some sort.

Love Language #3- Quality Time- Self explanatory I think, but someone's husband has a hard time remembering. (ME)

Love Language #4- Acts of Service- doing things you know your spouse will like. Chores, projects, etc. (This is a close second for me and I believe for most of the women in my family).

Love Language #5- Physical Touch- Again self explanatory.

The book points out that if you show your partner that you love them by speaking to them in their love language they will receive it.  If you don't, they may not.  So even if you are spending every night hanging out with your spouse they might not feel loved because you haven't taken out the garbage.  Makes a lot of sense to me and seems so simple.  But it's really actively loving, which can be hard to do on a daily basis.

My mother is a gift giver.  She is the most giving person I know.  Often to a fault.  She very often gives more then she should give and sometimes to people undeserving of her efforts.  But it is also the most beautiful thing about her.  Aid's primary love language is receiving gifts.  And not just toys, which is a given.  Any token.  He treasures it.  Reward charts are brilliant for him because he gets a star when he follows through and then gets another token of some sort when he has earned it.  He responds to it.  My mother has sent us "Grandma boxes" ever since we moved out here.  And there is usually something for all of us in it.  But Aid always appreciates it the most.  Grant does to, but more in a 'don't want to be left out' sort of way.  (I can't quite pin point Grant's just yet. I think it's Quality Time). While we were in Oregon Aid fell in love with the Velveeta Shells and Cheese my mom makes.  I don't know why I hate it.  It's all fake processed food.  Why do I care if the fake cheese is in powder form or goo form?  So in this Grandma box was a box of Velveeta Shells and Cheese.  With a note saying "I'm thinking about you Aiden and Grant and missing you."  Aid melted.  Not only over the noodles but over the note. "She wrote a note to me!"  My mother speaks his language and despite all my eye rolling and snarky comments to her about sending too much stuff, when I see that look on his face and see how loved he feels even from across the country, I feel grateful.  So grateful to have a mom who loves my kid enough to send a box of noodles to him.

I love you mom.