It's only June, and already we have reached 90+ temperatures. Everyone is trying to cool off, and even walking the dog has become an onerous chore. We are going to public swimming pools or wrangling invitations from friends who have a pool in their back yard. There's the tactic of fabricating errands so we can go shopping at indoor malls with lots of air conditioning. There's the escapist strategy of hiding out in a movie theater or library with breezy, circulating air. Many people stay at home in front of a fan, drinking one tall, ice-cube-clinking beverage after another. Of course, there are more fortunate people who can escape to a cooler climate, like my friend who took a ski vacation to Scandinavia. When I told her, "Bon voyage and break a leg!" that wasn't envy talking. Or was it?
The one thing that doesn't need cooling off is your relationship. Here are some things that you can do to keep your relationship "hot" this summer.
- Plan to be intimate during times of day when the kids are in camp. Of course, if your work schedule doesn't cooperate, another time will suffice. The coolness of the late evening or early morning could be a romantic time with few distractions. With no kids at home, you can get creative and move elsewhere to be intimate: a futon mattress on the living room floor, or a shaded, private place in your back yard.
- Summer is usually the time for family vacations. Often people cash-in on their saved-up vacation days, pack up the family car and head for the breezy beach or the fresh air of the mountains. Make sure you get some time for just the two of you during these days. Hire a babysitter; or, if you are one of the lucky ones, call the grandparents and request their services. They would probably love to be of help.
- And one more thing: schedule some summer date nights, such as to the fairgrounds, an outdoor concert, or an art show. Summer is a perfect time for just the two of you to enjoy each other and discuss your dreams and goals. Laugh and smile a lot. Look at each other with love in your eyes. Your relationship created your family, and it will create your future together.
Upholding the love that binds you together is a worthy priority. For two adults who love one another, that often means attending to mutual desire, and gently tending the flames of passion. If nothing else, engaging with your beloved is a wonderful distraction from the passing problems and obstacles of daily life. Make this an all-season commitment and start now.
So enjoy your summer!
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Contact Barbara J. Peters at luvanrn@att.net