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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

What do you do together (DP/DH) that makes you feel connected?

54 replies

picklerecipe · 17/09/2020 22:32

Just wondering what others do in their relationship that makes them feel connect to their partner? Anything even small like cooking together, a hobby, a chat after a long day but a time when you actually feel connected.

OP posts:
Fallada · 17/09/2020 22:33

You first.

ClarencesMum · 17/09/2020 22:37

Loads! Cook together at weekends, cuddle as we sleep, go for a walk round the block after dinner, get drunk together on a Friday night , chat about our work when we get in, text each other during the day, share TV shows, go to bed at the same time,. I dunno. Everything really.

I'll get laughed of mumsnet but we recently started exploring yoni massage. A great way of connecting!

funnylittlefloozie · 17/09/2020 22:37

We cook. We both enjoy that. Sometimes we do puzzles together. We have stressful jobs and eventful lives, so a bit of mundane pottering together suits us well.

picklerecipe · 17/09/2020 22:38

I’m struggling to feel connected to DP at the moment. Was just looking for some suggestions to weigh up if I have a bigger issue on my hands.

OP posts:
FatBottomedGurl · 17/09/2020 22:43

We do alot of small things together or for one another, to make us feel connected. Such as:

  1. When one is cooking dinner, the other sits in the kitchen whilst they do so. We listen to music and chat.
  2. We go to the gym together. We do separate things in the gym but just the act of walking in/leaving together is a connection.
  3. If I'm getting ready for an evening out, he will chill in the room with me while I get organised. Again, usually music on and general chat.
  4. We wouldn't ever make a cuppa/prepare food/pop to shop etc without asking the other if they want anything.
  5. If we have a quiet weekend with no plans we might spontaneously decide to go for a drive to somewhere we like and get a coffee/ice cream. We enjoy a roadtrip
  6. We regularly book weekends away and adventures such as GoApe activities with an overnight stay afterwards. We also enjoy hikes etc. I do nothing but bitch and moan the whole way up a hill, but he always acts like I'm a total hero for achieving it. I know I must be a PITA but he is a patient soul Grin

When thinking about it, we just choose to spend time together in the same space. Not obsessively; we have separate social lives and we aren't joined at the hip but alot of our good times just involve conversation, music and food!

Fallada · 17/09/2020 22:45

Sorry, OP. I thought it might be lazy journalism.

At the moment it seems to be mostly house hunting, screaming at the news on the radio in unison, and parenting our eight year old, but in more leisurely/non-Covid times we eat out together when possible, go to gigs etc.

quieterinreallife · 17/09/2020 23:19

We went away together. Just one night in a travel lodge with no children. It was lovely and I don't think I've ever felt more in love with him. We didn't do much, we walked around the local area and had dinner out but it was so nice to spend time together as just a couple. Would highly recommend it.

Cheeseycheeseycheesecheese · 17/09/2020 23:22

We do the bedtime routine for ds together.

Just asked dh and he pointed to his hand on my knee and said "we're connected" face-palm anyone??

Geppili · 17/09/2020 23:22

Walk together.

Liddell · 17/09/2020 23:22

We walk our dog together, lovely countryside beside us. Very relaxing, and time to chat.

PickAChew · 17/09/2020 23:25

Er. Well. Er.

Not a lot, lately, tbh. Though i absolutely insist we spend a little time in the same room as each other after DS2 finally goes to bed.

monkeyonthetable · 17/09/2020 23:40

Small everyday things are: we listen to funny radio programmes together, do the Saturday quiz together, sit with my feet up on his lap whenever we watch TV (he loves this for some reason). We discuss stuff like books, wine, music. We go to theatre and galleries together when they are open and chat a lot about what we've seen. We put on stupid voices and talk as the cat. We make each other laugh with daft things like this.

We go for long walks, though tbh these don't make me feel very connected with him as he is silent on walks and I like to chat; he walks slowly and I stomp ahead, but still, choosing where to walk and getting out into the countryside regularly is something we both enjoy and do together.

Bigger things: we discuss bucket-list style things we want to do in life and do them - plan amazing holidays, save up for them and really enjoy them.

LemonTT · 17/09/2020 23:57

Physically we do the hand holding, snuggling, cuddling and other stuff.
We have tv shows we follow together. I confess to a certain amount of infidelity in this. But he is wise to it.
We do go to the gym together but more difficult in current situation.
Walks and impromptu picnics weather permitting.
Find little projects for each other centred around our hobbies,
Take an interest in each other’s hobby
We develop our own in jokes that no one else would get.
We look after each other’s mental and physical health.

utterlynutty · 18/09/2020 00:04

We go on lots of walks together,play tennis and before Covid we did weekly dance classes.
During lockdown I taught DH how to bake.

caringcarer · 18/09/2020 00:30

We talk a lot with no TV on, and share our hopes and dreams but also our fears. We snuggle together, laugh together, watch cricket matches together, cook, picnic and have lively debates. We share a number of interest in common and that helps. Going out for a date night meal once or twice a week.

hobbyhobby · 18/09/2020 00:37

Following with interest

WowcherWoman · 18/09/2020 00:53

Have sex. Can’t get more ‘connected’ than thatGrin.

We follow TV series together too and even if we’ve secretly watched the next episode on our own, we’ll sit through it again so the other one can catch up.

Go to the gym together and talk about exercise/progress at home, give each other ideas on new routines etc. We’re both pretty obsessed with fitness but in a feeling good kind of way.

Sext during the day when at work.

Sexboardsafename · 18/09/2020 00:56

Hobbies, snuggles with Netflix, cuddles and kisses while we are getting on with stuff (nothing sexier than when I’m milling about the kitchen and he puts his arms around me from behind and kisses my neck),

Sexboardsafename · 18/09/2020 00:57

Also snuggles in bed and plenty of sex

MarkRuffaloCrumble · 18/09/2020 01:12

Once work is over, phones go down and we watch TV together. If he’s been playing XBox while I’m out of the room, he turns it off when I come in.

We always sit next to each other on the sofa (bad mum alert - even if it means moving one of the DC to the other sofa!) so that we can hold hands or stroke arms etc while watching TV. We have specific shows that we only watch when we’re together, or if we agree to watch at the same time apart.

We text when we’re apart. (We don’t live together so see each other 3 nights a week). Sending a quick cute message, sometimes just a single word which signifies that we’re remembering something nice, or a photo from one of our lovely holidays, lets me know that he’s thinking good things about me while we’re apart.

Every time he’s here we will both assume sex is on the cards. First one in bed lights the candle so the other one knows it’s on which is considered to be a ‘legally binding contract’ Grin It means we keep the physical connection, as the default is ‘yes’, we opt out rather than opting in IYSWIM.

We always kiss and hug when saying hello and goodbye, good morning or good night, as well as lots of times in between. Passionate kisses in the kitchen, a quick hand up the back of his t shirt for a back tickle while we’re talking, or some sneaky fondling when nobody’s around, all help too.

I take an interest in his work, and he in mine. He’ll apologise about potentially boring me with details but I like to know what’s happening in his world and it means a lot to him that I remember the small details. On the plus side, if ever he gets the sack, I reckon I could do his job now Grin

MarkRuffaloCrumble · 18/09/2020 01:16

Oh and he gives me a foot rub whenever he’s here, and I tickle his back. We try not to make it seem too transactional, but inevitably if he forgets or is too tired to rub my feet he won’t accept a back tickle Grin

Moonshinemisses · 18/09/2020 01:20

Very boring here, if we get an evening off together we cook together & then eat in front of the TV with wine & watch some comfort shows like midsomer murders or Doc Martin. When the teens are out we usually have a bath together, sometimes it ends in sex sometimes not but its just nice to relax together. We were divorced for 5 yrs before we remarried so this time around we make down time together a priority.

Lalaloveyou2020 · 18/09/2020 08:08

I second massage. It sounds so cliched but it really does connect you and make you feel like you're caring for each other. I did a massage course and was practicing on OH, who then watched a few youtube videos and practiced on me. Now when we're both a bit stressed and snappy we reconnect with a massage. It's great!

Shoxfordian · 18/09/2020 08:34

We play games together on the switch, do jigsaw puzzles, play board games, have a few drinks at the weekend. We go out for dinner frequently as well as having date night dinners at home.

frozendaisy · 18/09/2020 09:01

We gently that the piss out of each other at every available opportunity.

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