to want to have conversations with my dh that take place without the children around, and are more than just a brief exchange of information, and with the TV turned off?

[emkana]

dh thinks I am

SO familiar.
If you ABU then IABU too

Oh, I'm sorry, for a minute there I thought you were implying you can have both marriage and stimulating conversation

conversation?

YANBU.

However, once you have achieved this perhaps you could get me some rocking horse shit?

no no pottycock, she said "conversations" ... plural...
High maintenance obviosuly

Night out, just the 2 of you to remind you (him) that you can talk as a leisure activity?

not sure whether to be shocked or relieved that other dh's are the same

my DH sometimes says "hello" when he gets in from work (round about now) before he puts the TV on

It's a lot to expect!

I'm sure my dh just 'tunes out' from my voice sometimes. It's like talking to a brick wall, only slightly less stimulating!

seriously though... I thought plenty of MNers had child-free meals together with their dh's after the children had been tucked up in bed? No?

We went out for the day today and I told DH that I had a pad and pen in my bag and to brace himself because we would be having a conversation on the way home! It's the only way I have his undivided attention! And I've got a teenager who doesn't need constant attention and most of the time isn't here!

Well, I think we talk a lot. But we never plan to do it IYSWIM. Nothing would clam me up quicker than a planned conversation, and it would drive DH up the wall. We just talk.

To be fair to DH, it was only a planned conversation because we are having a big party in a few weeks and we needed to do some proper planning.

unrealistic maybe?
is there football on the tv?

never ever happens here....

i huffed with OH one night cause he unlocked the door to let me in and then walked back into living room and sat at comp. i had been away all day driving for a total of six hours, 32 weeks pregnant, shattered and probably hormonal. he discovered the art of conversation very quickly that night!!!!

well, we have this problem, but are undertaking an experiment this week...

we have put the TV into the 'storeroom' (junkroom/4th bedroom ) It is only day one so far, but we have definitely done more houseworky type things, and more reading and sewing. Dont know about talking yet though...

I have periods where i HATE having a TV as i think it sucks the life out of the house. Of course when DS starts whinging for ITNG or Mr Men, and i am desperate for a break, we will see how long it takes me to back track...

pooter get him a sandpit and some toy digging tools. and some treasure to bury/discover. ds loves this, will spend all day rain or shine digging.

We don't watch tv (sorry, know that sounds smug).
We have nice meals together and then kids slip off and we stay at the table and talk.My dh gts arsey with me if I make a move after about an hour. 'Sit and talk with me!' he whinges.

He does watch some tv when we are all in bed. Sport i think. I go up first and read.

I hasten to add I don't see him very often but i thnk tv can indeed be a distructive force in a family/pertnership. I've just spent 3 weeks with him abroad and after dinner every night we say and played games/practiced reading/writing/mathswith the kids. He told me afterwards it was the best part of our holiday (despite being initially mildly unenthusiastic and needing encouragement from me.)

By the time ds is bed I am knackered and DH's job means he is on laptop evenings/nights emailing and researching stuff.

I normally nab him when he is in bed already (and therefore no tv or laptop) and I am getting ready for bed.