Story by Jentri Gilbert Nelson
I go hunting. This is a picture of me hunting tonight. No guns. No animals. But I assure you I am hunting. Let me explain.
When I met my husband 9 years ago, he told me that he hunted. He said that girls he dated in the past didn’t care for the amount of time he spent hunting, so he wanted to make sure I knew up front.
I explained that I don’t cook, & that I never want to cook. That’s a whole other story. 😂
Since that time, we have gotten married, both graduated law school, & had three beautiful children. I’m not going to lie, I struggled with Adam hunting so often, especially after our children came along. It was hard to be alone with the kids during dove season, deer season, duck season, & turkey season. It took us almost three years to get into a groove.
The last two years have been pretty good. We have learned to compromise. What really helps is that I started hunting. Not with Adam. Not actual hunting. But on the weekends, after he gets home, I tell him it’s my turn to hunt, which really means I go in the bedroom & read a book or watch tv. I go out to dinner with a girlfriend. I take one of my three babies for a date.
Sometimes during the week, I’ll be exhausted. Just completely worn out from the day. I’ll come home, & Adam will have supper cooked. Usually, I clean up the dishes, & we take turns with baby baths/bedtime routines. But I have a complete pass on responsibilities when I really need it, which is usually once or twice a month. All I do is say, “I’m going hunting.” Adam just smiles and nods.
Tonight, I’m in the bath & plan to read a book & go to bed early. There are no questions asked. He knows I need it or I wouldn’t have said it.
He cleans the dishes after he already cooked. He gives the kids a bath, reads the stories, & tucks them in. He lets me just be for the night.
I think Moms often get so busy caring for their babies & husbands & homes that they don’t have time for hobbies or time to themselves.
Ladies, take the time to “hunt.” Husbands, let your wives “hunt” or “play video games”- the hobby you get to make time for while she cares for your babies. I love my husband, babies, & job, but I cherish my time hunting.
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