My husband loves cars. If we’re sitting together and he’s on his laptop, he’s looking at pictures of cars while I’m wondering how many cars one can look at before all cars just look like cars. Internet car porn is what I call it.
Meanwhile, my relationship to cars is this: Does it move properly? Does it look cute? Is the payment low? Sold. I couldn’t care less about what’s going on underneath the hood until it’s time to pay to get it fixed.
So when he starts going on about how this car has this type of engine, and this car and that car are essentially the same car because of the body style, and the speed and the suspension and the years that different cars were made”.....sorry, I must have fallen asleep talking about it.
The truth is, I have about as much interest in car conversations as he has in chats about handbags.
Even so, I will occasionally flip through one of his Motor Trend magazines or click on a car story when I see it pop up online. While I will likely never be a car enthusiast, I still like knowing a little more about something he loves.
Having at least a little knowledge about his interests means that I can meet his enthusiasm with more than a yawn and a blank stare. Sometimes I can even attempt to impress him with my knowledge (ha ha!). Every now and again I surprise myself by becoming interested in something car oriented, for instance, although I will never be a car enthusiast, we go to the car show in our city every year, and I look forward to it.
Today’s challenge is to find out something about your spouse’s interest. Read an article about something they enjoy, ask him or her a question about the interest, or read and then ask””even better. Not only will it let your spouse know you’re paying attention and give the two of you something to talk about, it will give you a little knowledge to add to your own mind.
Find more practical tips to keep your marriage hot even when you’re short on time at Making Love in the Microwave.