The 6th Love Language—Laundry

Posted On August 12, 2009

Remember Part I of our Moochcation, when we stayed with our friends in Kansas City? Well, we repaid the favor by hosting their lovely family for two nights at the beginning of the week.

Among cleaning up dog pee, going sledding (yes, in August!), instituting many time-outs (I was very naughty.), and observing the life cycle of the fruit fly, we adults managed to sneak out for a few hours of good food and even better conversation.

One of our discussions involved The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman, which my BFF and her husband have both read but we had not. If you’re not familiar with the book, it’s a fabulous tool for couples, families, or even friends. The concept is that everyone has at least one “love language,” the way they most feel loved by someone else. Usually we will also give love the same way we receive it, which may not necessarily be the love language your spouse, child, or friend needs. This is when misunderstandings and hurt feelings can erupt.

The Five Love Languages are:

• Quality Time
• Words of Affirmation
• Gifts
• Acts of Service
• Physical Touch

Yeah, if you’re thinking that most guys would list “Physical Touch” as their primary love language, I think you’re right. I pegged that one to be Husband’s, along with Quality Time. Mine? Definitely not Physical Touch. (Husband will vouch for that.) Gifts? Hmmm, that one’s intriguing. At first I thought my primary love language was Acts of Service because if Husband vacuums the living room without my nagging him or checks the oil in my car unprovoked, that makes me feel like he really cares about me and is thinking about what he can do to help me.

But after this weekend, I think I’ve discovered a 6th Love Language, thanks to my BFF. Did I mention that for the entire three days they were at my house, she would periodically disappear for about 15 minutes, and when she would finally reappear, she was folding clothes or putting them away? Yes, she was doing our laundry. Dirty underwear and all! I don’t even know how many loads she did over the three-day span, but I think we are going to have to buy more hangers because our closets have never experienced so many clean clothes at one time!

Seriously, is that awesome or what? To me, that goes way beyond “Acts of Service” and deserves a category all its own.

Gary Chapman, you’re going to have to add a new chapter in your book because my Love Language is definitely Laundry.

(And no, you cannot borrow my BFF. She’s all mine.)

The beautiful photo is by fringuellina on flickr!