Why I Have a Love/Hate Relationship with Butt Pats

First off, let me start by saying I married my dad. WHOA, I didn't actually marry MY DAD - I married a guy who is eerily similar to my dad in a lot of ways. What do you think this is Kentucky?! (I'm actually FROM Kentucky and it was a joke so no hateful comments.)

My husband smells like my dad, he has an engineering brain like my dad and he shows his affection toward me kind of like my dad. Okay, before you get all weird let me explain. Every time my mom or I would walk past my dad, he'd poke me in the leg, or the face or whatever what convenient. I vividly remember him giving my mom butt pats which I also remember her hating. I wasn't fond of being poked either.

Now that I'm all grown up, my husband gives me the same pokes and butt pats that my dad gave my mom. I was in a compromising yoga position last night and he got me good. There was no defense, none. He also got me going up the stairs earlier that night. I turn around and give him what for - how would you like ME to poke you every time I walked past you?! He laughed... he's smart enough to not walk in front of me on stairs.

The thing is, though they are extremely aggravating, I kind of love my butt pats because it is affectionate play. When my dad passed away, there were no more annoying pokes in the leg or tickle fights or a loving mussing of the hair when he walked past me. And, I miss them. I try to remember how much I miss them when I get a big fat WHOP right on my butt during my perfectly centered yoga pose or when I get a pinch while I'm rendered totally defenseless in the middle of a family photo shoot.

And, I hope you take a moment to look at those annoying habits your spouse or family member displays and remember to love them too. They might be a minor annoyance but you might wish you had them back some day.