The Thursday Routine

Like most people, I suffer from bouts of OCD, and I am very OCD when it comes to Thursday, each week. That's the day my sweetie gets home and I like things to be 'just so' when he gets in.  

What I do is not something he has ever asked for, or told me was expected of me as a stay at home wife, but over time it's become a routine that I look forward to.  He works so hard, drives and sleeps odd hours. When he gets in, he's exhausted and he's either chilled to the bone in winter or dying of heat exhaustion in summer.

If the grocery shopping hasn't been done, I'll get up really early and go that morning, however I usually do it on a Tuesday or Wednesday, so as to plan the weekend menu.  I spend Thursday morning making the dinner salads, putting together fruit salad, tuna fish for sandwiches, coleslaw and pre-cooking vegetables.  Sometimes on Wednesday night I will prep the crockpot so it can start cooking when I get up at 7.  

I like for Russell to come home to a clean house, so I vacuum and dust the whole house, and clean the bathroom.  All the trash is taken out.  I do whatever laundry is left so that the hamper is empty too. Clean sheets and towels are a must for when he gets home.  In the winter, I warm the house up with all the heaters on.  Conversely in summer, the a/c and fans are cranked.  Dog toys picked up, kitchen table paperwork put away or left out neatly, if needed.

Then there are the little things that I like to do as well.  His towel is hung on the bathroom doorknob, easy to reach when he finishes his shower.  I make sure to replace the bar of soap if it's gotten real small.  His comfy clothes are taken out of the closet in the bedroom and put in the bathroom.  In the winter, I'll run them through the dryer for a few minutes to warm them up.  There is always a bottle of water and some cough drops on his nightstand.

Out in the living area, the dishes are done from all the dinner prep, dried and put away.  The fridge & freezer are stocked with his fave foods and ice tea drinks.  The kitchen usually smells really good from whatever soup, chili, crock pot meal, etc. I've got going.  I love seeing his face light up like a Christmas tree when he walks through the door and smells the food!  I will also do a few errands in the morning and get his fave scratch ticket, which waits on the table next to his chair.  I also put the remote control, or 'clickah' as he calls it, on the table because he likes to surf channels and watch his shows.

While he is in the shower, I unpack his computer and set it up so he can get right to his games.  I finish making dinner and bring his salad and drink to the TV table.  After he's showered, comfy and has eaten his salad, I bring him his dinner.  Anything he needs, I am happy to get for him.  If I go out to do errands, I'll stop and get him his fave iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts.  I spoil him rotten all weekend long and, having never experienced that in his life, he's more than happy to let me.  It brings me great joy to see him so happy, and very appreciative too, I might add.  When he leaves, I always pack a lunch for him and enclose a love note on a yellow stickie.  

I figure it's the least I can do for the love of my life.