How my 7-year-old taught me to recapture the magic of my relationship

Having just gotten over the shock of discovering my 14-year-old son managed to acquire, kiss and lose a girlfriend in the space of two days, I didn’t think I could handle any more romantic revelations.

My seven-year-old son had other ideas however and after sharing an open and honest conversation with him, the type of which I’d say I’ve only another two years to enjoy, I learned that my little boy thought his teacher, Miss Simons*, was ‘beautiful’.

Honestly, what’s in the water this week?

When I asked him to tell me why, he said she was kind to him, she taught him about dinosaurs even when it wasn’t part of the lesson plan and she smelled pretty, “like the flowers you put in the hall when Granny visits.”

Well, who wouldn’t find that beautiful?

I was keen to learn more about what made Ms. Simons so special. Hearing my son identify the traits which he found so appealing in someone else made me long for a time when crushes and relationships came down to nothing, but mutual awe and admiration.

Recalling the days when the simple things about my husband was enough to make me fall in love with him over and over made me realise how badly I need to  recapture that simplicity.

Instead of spending our day issuing orders and instructions at each other in a bid to keep our chaotic household running smoothly, we need to remember that we were once ‘just us’ and do our best to retain that part of our relationship, despite living in a house of toddler tantrums and teenage tribulations.

Our approach to each other these days doesn’t come from a lack of love, but more the shared desire not to mess things up which is, in and of itself, vaguely reassuring. If we both share the same goal, we’re not likely to go too badly wrong, but still, I do wonder.

While I can’t remember the last time I playfully ruffled my husband’s hair or complimented his appearance, I’m sure he’d struggle to recall the last time he noticed my new hair style or squeezed my hand reassuringly.

Miss. Simons is kind, encouraging and smells wonderful. So is my husband and it’s about time I remind him I know it.