To restore warmth in our relationship, I decided to take a step toward my husband and invite him on a date. His response was a real shock to me. He refused, saying that he was ashamed of me. That’s when I realized that we had both reached a dead end, and only an honest conversation with my husband’s friend helped me understand what we needed to change.
My husband and I had been married for 23 years. We have four children, and our whole life revolved around them. I took care of the house—cooking, cleaning, doing laundry—while Jack would come home from work, sit on the couch, and watch TV. Year after year, our relationship grew more distant, and I began to feel that we had lost the closeness that once connected us. Everything we talked about revolved around taking care of the children, and nothing more.
I wanted to bring back the romance, to feel like a woman again—one who deserves love and attention. We hadn’t gone out together in a long time, so I decided it was time to suggest an evening at a café with Jack. It was a small step, but I hoped he would agree.
When he came home, I decided to ask: “Jack, how about going on a date? A nice new place just opened—let’s check it out.” I expected him to support my idea, but his reaction was completely different from what I had hoped for.
He looked at me and said, “Look at yourself! You look terrible. I’m not going anywhere with you.”
His words cut through me, and I felt tears well up in my eyes. I had just finished cleaning and preparing dinner, and now he was telling me that I looked terrible.
But that wasn’t the end of his words. He continued: “Even when you cry, you look terrible. I’m ashamed of you. I can’t go out with you if you look like this.”
I was in shock. I couldn’t believe he could say something like that. He walked out of the house, leaving me alone with a bitter feeling.
Later, Jack went to see his friend Samuel, and that conversation turned out to be a real eye-opener for him. When he came back home, his eyes were filled with understanding. He told me that Samuel had taken his wife on a date to the same café I had mentioned and that he had witnessed how his friend cared for his wife, how he showed her love and attention every day.
Jack was shaken. He said to me, “You know, I realized a lot when I saw how Samuel treats his wife. He makes her happy every day, and now I understand that you deserve the same.”
He apologized for his words, brought me a gift, and said, “Will you go on a date with me? I reserved a table at that café you talked about.
I was so happy! Jack saw in me once again the woman he had loved. We went to the café, and I felt our relationship come back to life. I looked different, and it was as if he rediscovered the person he had fallen in love with.
From that moment on, we started working on our relationship. Jack became much more attentive. He began helping around the house, which gave me the opportunity to take time for myself, care for myself, and regain my inner balance. I started to feel not just like a mother and a housekeeper but also like a woman who could be admired. We began communicating more openly and honestly, which helped us grow closer again.
Now we understand that to maintain and strengthen love, we have to work on our relationship, appreciate each other, and show care. Our efforts have paid off, and I once again feel that we are in harmony—because love is not just about emotions, but also about daily care and attention to one another.
