This month my PMS seemed both outrageous and contagious. I started feeling mopey the week right after Thanksgiving. Then my period hit full-force with raging cramps and mood swings – which my husband somehow managed to catch. He was as moody and miserable as I was. But can men actually “catch” PMS? Is it possible that my out of sorts and downtrodden mood could have rubbed off on him?
I called in sick this past Friday – something I really hate to do. But my cramps were so bad that I felt like I was catching an awful cold. My head said not to call off work, but the rest of my body just plain didn’t care to move that day. This feeling carried on into Saturday, but I tried to get up bright and early in order to get out of my funk.
My husband and I went to breakfast, then spent our lifesavings (or at least what felt like it) Christmas shopping for the friends and family we miss so much this time of year since we moved out of state. It turned out that shopping was not as fun as I thought it would be. We both finished the afternoon feeling tired, broke, and just as depressed as when we started. Whatever happened to buying yourself happiness? Or in this case, buying for others to bring yourself happiness?
The rest of the day we bickered over silly things. “Did you let the dogs in?” “Have you fixed the vacuum cleaner?” “When are you going to fix that door?” I kept asking him all kinds of questions which just led to him fighting back with temper tantrums of his own. The last straw for me was when he pulled up a website about wives nagging their husbands and told me to read it. I was surprisingly calm, but…
I wanted to throw the computer at him.
After cancelling our plans with friends for the evening – partially because of the constant bickering of the day, and partially because of the snow outside and not wanting to go anywhere – we went our separate ways and settled into our separate rooms. I cozied up in bed with my brand new heating pad (which I had picked up while shopping earlier that day) while he settled into the guestroom playing video games. The house was a mess, my body was aching… and again I just didn’t really care.
I wanted to spend some time with my husband because he was going to be out of town for work the following week. But the more time we tried to spend together, the more the bickering ensued. So we each went to our comfort places – he to his “man cave” to entertain himself, me to my sanctuary to watch sad movies and warm my cramped belly.
And then something wonderful happened.
We both miraculously woke up Sunday morning in better moods. Sure, my cramps had subsided a little and I was feeling a little better because I was looking at my shopping spree in a more positive light – I did get most of my Christmas shopping done in the first week of December, after all. But there was something more.
Usually we rely on each other for everything, even those little comforts when we’re feeling down. But this time, thanks to my “monthly gift,” I think what we really needed was some time to do what we each really wanted – in the peace and quiet of our own home, and our own favorite places. And this time gave us what we needed to pull ourselves back together. Later that day, we put a little teamwork into action and got the house clean, the laundry started… And even had time that evening for a romantic stroll through the park to look at the Christmas lights.
There’s nothing like a bad PMS followed by some self-indulgence and solitary moments to make a couple truly appreciate and enjoy their time together. And get a little more into the Christmas spirit in the process!
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