Well, finding a "neutral" subject HAS been easy lately. Just hasn't gotten into "controversial" stuff, or hasn't really gotten near conflict. I suppose that's good, because it just makes for more practice just interacting, but a bit of successful conflict resolution (on a small scale, or course) would help pave the way for conflict resolution on a greater plane.
W and I are immersed in a whirl wind home renovation. Total gut reno of a basement bedroom, and major decoration of a first floor bedroom and 2 bathrooms. We are doing all the work ourselves, she and I. I even taught her how to tape sheetrock the other day, and she's pretty good!!! So, with that come hundreds of little joint or separate decisions. There's been health debate and agreement in joint decisions, support for sepatate decisions, and positive, constructive discussions. Good, open support for each other's contributions. A mutual goal, as it were, and it has been keeping her feeling that she has to spend time at home.
The reason for all this is that her father will be moving in with us shortly, at my suggestion. He is just not capable of living by himself any more, and I couldn't face the thought of just putting him in a home, while W and her brother were seriously considering that. I've received much relieved gratitude from both for my suggestion he live with us. They didn't want him to go into a home, but saw no other practical choice. I offered a viable, practical solution, that included some reno to our house, and I've dived in with full enthusiasm...
On the Physical Intimacy front, physical affection and contact are definately on the increase. Since the C session where it was discussed, every night in bed, we always "snuggle". No more distance, no more roll over with back to each and avoidance. Always a little hug, a leg over leg. No sex, but nice, genuine affection and cuddling. Lot's of hugs, initiated by both of us. Well, more by me, but without any withdrawal on her part. And the bedtime snuggles are almost always initiated by here!!!It's really great. I feel more connected that I have in a long, long time.
Thanks for checking in with me. I've been working lately, both on the house, and for "real money" (I'm freelance, which means "unemployed most of the time"), ergo my absense from the board. That, too, is liberating. I often get way too caught up in this place. It's really good to take a mental-health break from time to time...
