Describe a trait that attracted you to your significant other, but that now drives you a little crazy.
Something I loved about my husband when I met him was his laid back personality. He’s a quiet, private man. You could find him in the upper right hand corner of the bleachers watching volleyball games at the tournaments his teams participated in. Hiding beneath his hat with his hands in his pockets, he was so “chillaxed”.
“Ho Brah. Hawaiian Styyyle…” I can hear him saying slowly in his best pidgin.
I liked that this man was not in a rush. I liked that people loved him despite the fact that he didn’t care what anyone thought of him. I liked that beneath his hat and crossed arms was a big heart and inside jokes. He didn’t have to be one of those cocky guys who flirt and play mind games and lead women on. What you see is what you get with Pat.
“Ho Brah. Hawaiian Styyyle…”
I liked the Hawaiian Style.
I liked that Pat had never and would never fly off the handle in an angry fit. I liked that he had no trust issues and freely let me have my girls nights without laying on any sort of guilt trips. I liked that he could relax on a Sunday afternoon and watch movies and order take out.
“Ho Brah. Hawaiian Styyyle…”
I could get used to the Hawaiian Style.
So I married it.
And then we had kids.
And let me tell you, when it’s 10am on a Saturday and you’ve got a three year old pulling your two year old’s hair, and an infant hungry for a bottle, and all of them are screaming in your face…and you search the house in a desperate attempt to get any kind of help and you find your husband “chillaxing” in bed while searching EBAY for sports cards on his laptop and listening to Israel kamakawiwo’ole’s version of Over The Rainbow…and he calmly looks at you in your frazzled mess and you scream,
“I COULD USE SOME HELP AROUND HERE! WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?!?” and he answers slowly in his best pidgin,
“Ho Brah. Hawaiian Styyyle…”
You’re pretty much over it.
Ah, but I love him.
The Prompts:
1.) If you had to go back to high school, how would you do it differently?
2.) Describe a trait that attracted you to your significant other, but that now drives you a little crazy.
3.) Your first car.
4.) Describe how you met your best friend.
5.) Write a love letter to someone (some thing?) you love.
tracy says
Oh my word – that is hilarious. Yeah, I would go a bit crazy also. There is no chillaxing going on with small kids around. In other news – his shirt is awesome.
Lady Estrogen says
Oooh.. I love that version of the Rainbow song. Was *almost* our 1st dance song.
I can picture him saying that, though – hilarious.
I find, much to my horror, I assimilate other people’s annoying phrases – like I’m a chameleon. ACK!
Paula Kiger says
I have to fight that assimilation of phrases thing too! Phrases that drive me nuts end up sneaking into my vocab like bad weeds!
Georgia Girls says
Love it! I saw that coming a mile away ;) I’m glad you can still roll with him. We just have to keep reminding ourselves of those endearing qualities.
Alison@Mama Wants This says
The hand gesture/signal thingy – does he still do that??
Chillaxing is not a word that exists in households with small children. Period.
Oh, you look cute in that photo!
Jenn @ Coolest Family on the Block says
hahaha! Yeah, that’d pretty much drive me crazy.
My hubby also had a real laid back attitude. Unfortunately I’ve managed to make him almost as much “bothered” as I am over time. Pity.
Elena says
Hysterical. I could see where the laid back approach to parenting might be a little annoying. ;)
Bruna says
My hubby is Mr. Relaxed too and I find it balances my high-strung, worry personality. Of course, when screaming, fighting kids are involved, he’s not allowed to be hiding up in our room playing on the computer. No way Jose!
jackie says
This is exactly what my husband is like, and it drives me insane!
Paulette says
OH MY WORD! I could see how that could both attract you to him and be annoying later on. Definitely no, what was it chilaxxing? while kids are screaming mess at the mama!
Ixy says
I totally understand – my husband is the Type B to my Type A, which is a great mix. Except for when he’s being relaxed about Very Important and Urgent Stuff. Argh!! At least he doesn’t provoke me further with quotes about Hawaiian style.
The Drama Mama says
I understand. While we don’t have the Hawaiian style thing going on here, we seem to have the drunken stupor look going on. You know the one..the glassy eyed, inability to stare anywhere but the tv screen look. Complete with deaf and dumb. At least, your husband does it with style. Hawaiian style. ;)
Branson says
Oh my goodness you TOTALLY just described my husband! LOL! Right down to me yelling: “I COULD USE SOME HELP AROUND HERE! WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?!?” But yeah, I still love mine too…
Jennifer@ The Mommy Mambo says
Oh man! I got mad for you. Reminds me of my hubs private poop-a-thons. You know, where they lock the children out of the bathroom for 45 mins while they read a new magazine cover to cover in quiet private porcelain peace?
But even when he’s home he agrees with the children that your potty time should be a revolving door of question and answer sessions, di-cast airplane fly-bys, and sibling war at your feet!
Loved the love hate story!
MarytheKay says
I LOVED this!! I have a very laid back husband, too–so I can empathize. It made me smile, though, to be able to hear your love for him, even in describing a quality that can now drive you crazy. I always love your posts that include Pat.
And by the way–that picture of you is beautiful!! You look luminous!
Stasha says
Chilllaxed, woot. My google is overheating this week because of you! So many new words.
As for his attitude: You complete each other. Right?
ElizOF says
I love it… “Ho Brah, Hawaiian Styyyle. :-) Way too funny!
Elizabeth
Jessica says
The laid back style would drive me crazy with kids too. My husband is like that sometimes and I have to admit that I do yell.
The Reason You Come says
I like when you said, “But I love him.” It’s kind of reassuring because I’m like your husband. I’m the laid back one, and my husband’s the more responsible one. Hope he doesn’t get over his adoration of my chillaxed personality soon. Or ever!
That “hang loose” hand gesture? I like it! So surfer-dude-like.
Mrs. Weber says
I also married a laid back dude. I love it because it balances me out, but hate it because it takes him 10 times longer to complete a task. If he pulled out the hawaiian-style brah sign all the time though, I think we’d head for divorce!
Dianna says
Yeah, I can see where that would frost your cookies!
SaucyB says
I guess it’s my husband’s childish sense of humor that sometimes gets on my nerves. Sometimes it can be a little much.
Carrie says
That? That would be death in my house ;)
Mama Track says
This is hysterical. I can totally see how that would turn into something that’s annoying.
Jessica says
Oh this is so funny, my husband still tries to pretend that weekends are for relaxing and watching sports. My job in life is to continuously remind him that it is not.
Nikki says
Wait a minute? Is he my husband’s brother because my husband is just the same! *lol*
Angela says
Yup. Sounds like my husband. The laid back way he is used to drive me crazy but then I was reminded that I really didn’t want two of me running around the house. I shutter to think about that type of chaos.
Jennifer says
David is really similar to Pat. He does get upset sometimes, but mostly he’s just laid back. I think one of the reasons we attracted to our opposite is because it balances us out. If I didn’t have him to keep me down to earth I would be constantly flipping out.
Melissa says
I love the word “brah”. I hear it when I watch Hawaii Five-O, it’s pretty great.
Paula Kiger says
Ha, this made me laugh (except the three simultaneously needy, crying, whimpering kids part of course).
My brother in law is like that, exactly. The heart of gold saves him every time!
Emily Humphries says
so glad to know I’m not the only one who screams I could use a little help around here. My husband does the same thing sometimes. It’s always at the worst possiable time too.
Gwen says
Soooooooo funny! You’ve just described MY husband!!!
Jen says
I am thinking this relaxed style might be all men not just the Hawaii kind.
Nicole@MTDLBlog says
I SO miss life in Hawaii for this reason…it was definitely a different way of live. Although, when the babies cried and the five year old was melting down over her shoes not “working” as she tries to force them on, I still lost my mind….even with the peaceful tradewinds blowing in my face.
Nicole@MTDLBlog says
*a different way TO live. Sheesh…I need more coffee.
Peg says
Isn’t amazing how those very qualities that attracted you can turn on you so quickly? He looks VERY chillaxed in those pictures!
Karen V. says
I can see how that would get on your nerves but try having a wound up, uptight husband… Yeah, that chillaxin’ thing, startin’ to look a little better now, isn’t it? ;)
Jenners says
Let me tell you, this “hands off” approach to child crises isn’t just a Hawaiiaan thing … I find Mr. Jenners strangely absent at the most inconvenient times — and usually locate him playing Angry Birds on his iPhone oblivious (or faking obliviousness) to my issues.
Minivan Mama says
No wonder you are losing it! Good thing he’s cute!
Caroline says
My husband is also very laid back. It is one of the reasons I married him. But, I HATE having to beg for help!!
Diane says
Love that last picture. My mother-in-law brought my sons t-shirts from Hawaii a couple of years ago with that hand gesture on the front.
Jessica says
LOL! It’s a blessing and a curse :) I’m sure it’s more of a blessing though! Love the prompts this week – it took me awhile to decide which one I wanted to do!
Andrea says
Ahh yes. My thought exactly! What seems like a good thing in at first can bite you in the butt when kids arrive… :)
Eve says
Your hubby is a lot like mine. He’s totally laid back and nothing really bugs him. It can be a super sweet trait and a pain the ass….depends on the day I guess. Great prompts this week by the way…I’m all about the vlogging now lady you got me hooked!!!
morgan says
oh … that’s just painful! too much of a good thing, huh?
Cori says
Everyone has their own chillaxin’ person!! Love this!!
Anne Province says
What a great tribute to your “chillaxin” man! Isn’t it funny how the things we just adored about our men can drive us a little nuts now! I think that was the warning sign in the vows “For better or worse!” Hmmmm!
Anne
P.S. Love Izzy’s “Over The Rainbow” but I cry every time.
P.P.S The picture of you two together is awesome. You are a true natural beauty. Lucky you!
Nicole Welkener says
I love this!
Christy @ cat fur to make kitten britches says
Ha, ha! Your story made me laugh (but I suppose it’s much funnier when you’re not the one actually *living* it, right?!).
MommyLisa says
Awesome. LOVE that over the rainbow…it makes me misty-eyed. ;)
Nicole says
Eh hoy…leave dat braddah alone cuz :) lol
Its cute when I hear my family “talk pidgin” but then not really. How I wish everything could just be chill like that everyday.
LLA_Princess (Amy) says
ok my first writer’s workshop, loved it. Where else can I share with people how twitter has made me it’s b**ch. It truly was love at first site. haha
Amy says
This is so funny! I dated a Samoan guy in college that was the same way. I wouldn’t handle it well with kids running around either! Ha!
JDaniel4's Mom says
My husband has been found relaxing while chaos is going on around him.
jane@flightplatformliving says
omgoodness that was hilarious! when tilly is beating up on me and smashing the house i am goig to add ‘Ho Brah. Hawaiian Styyyle’ into my mantra list along with ‘just keep swimming!’ so very very funny as a mum of 3 under 5 i know so well that feeling of HELLO SOME HELP PLEASE!!! and yes the capitals and exclamation marks are all needed xxxx thanks for making me laugh even if it is slightly at your expense x
KIr says
oh how I loved this, the one thing you knew would make him AMAZING, is also the thing that drives you nuts…I have that too. It’s call his loyalty to HOCKEY. I love that about him , that he loves his team and stays faithful but dear God Hockey season runs from Oct- May/June and it’s on about 4 times a week. UGH.
I am a HOCKEY WIDOW :(
A Mommy in the City says
I love that laid back personality! Think he can give my husband a few pointers??
Jackie says
I love this!
And I’m so sad that Blogger has been down because I was going to blog about one of those prompts too. =(
The Diva Bee says
I would linkup but there’s no kinky :(
My first car: http://thedivabee.blogspot.com/2011/05/second-chance-to-live.html
Jessica Plassmeyer says
Haha too funny, I LOVE how many pictures you have of him with the same pose, we grow to hate the things we loved, and love the things we hated, the framework of a perfect relationship!