Some years ago, I had a classmate who invited me over to spend the night. Her parents were lovely and very hospitable.
Over dinner, they told me about how they've secretly sent gifts to each other even while on opposite sides of the country for work. It made me smile.
The first time it happened, it was a secret apparently. Of course each of them found out eventually.
It was cute to hear! Spontaneity keeps a marriage alive, or so they say.
People shared their stories with us after Redditor alvl70charizard asked the online community:
"What's one thing your partner doesn't know?"
"That her mom..."
"That her mom called for her the moment before she died. When her mom was dying she was in the room with her for almost 24 hours straight and left for 30 seconds and I was there and in those 30 seconds her mother died but not before calling for my wife. I don't know if it will haunt her or not, but I just don't think it's something she needs to know."
GoGoNJDevil
You go to the grave with that one, no doubt. She will beat herself up horribly.
"That most of the times..."
"That most of the times I ask my wife for a hug are when she's feeling down or upset, because she doesn't like to be "clingy or needy" so she internalises and goes quiet. I tell her I need a hug because of one thing or another so I can comfort her without making her feel like she's inconveniencing me."
candinos
Awww. This is wholesome. And clever.
"That I have a folder..."
"That I have a folder of photos on my computer called “Places I have found my wife’s shoes” that is legitimately filled with thousands of pictures of my wife’s shoes that are neither in the closet or shoe rack. I started it years ago as a joke and it has gotten out of hand."
gerryf19
This is hilarious – and very cute. We look forward to what she'll say the day she actually learns about it.
"My husband's birthday..."
"My husband's birthday is Christmas Eve. Unfortunately his birthday gets forgotten a lot. The first year we were married almost no one remembered, and although he claimed it didn't bother him, I could see that it really did."
"So now I send out a text first thing on the morning on Christmas Eve, and all everyone to take a moment to wish him a happy birthday, and explicitly stated that no one is to let him know that I've sent out the text. Almost 12 years in, and he hasn't found out."
dream_weaver35
This is so wholesome. Keep that secret! You're doing lovely work.
"My wife doesn't know..."
"My wife doesn’t know her kindle is connected to my Amazon account and I can see the many alien sex novels she’s read."
NoMetal2605
Man, you gotta read some of those and tell her about this weird dream you had...
"When we were dating..."
"When we were dating she tickled my feet and I acted as if I wasn't ticklish. 13 years later she will tickle them and be amazed I am not ticklish, everytime it tickles. I have to hide this forever."
dontworryimstupid
It sounds like you've created your own hell, sir.
"I also distract her..."
"My wife is the biggest softie for animals, and we have birds that nest right in a column on our porch. One day a baby bird fell out and she saw. Well it ended up dying, but I buried it and told her that I saw the momma bird come down and get it. It made her day so much better that I haven't had the heart to tell her it died and probably never will."
"I also distract her whenever I see roadkill coming up, or tell her it was just a plastic bag or something."
JBroski91
You're a kind soul. Your wife must certainly appreciate it.
"Some of the time..."
"That I know our daughter's reddit account, and that I check in on her regularly."
"I feel deep, profound guilt about following her, because while I respect her privacy I know that she has significant physical and emotional issues. She's at college out of state, and battles with clinical depression and an unusual and incurable chronic illness, and she really, really tries not to let on to the world when she's going through a rough patch."
"She'll make a comment or post something that lets me know that she's feeling crushed or broken, and I'll co-incidentally reach out to her the next day and give her an opening to talk about anything that's bothering her. Most of the time it works and she'll vent for awhile and feel a little better."
"Some of the time we just trade pictures of cats. Either way, she knows that she's loved and that someone is thinking of her."
Randomizer73
You don't sound like a bad parent at all. Best to keep this one to yourself, though.
"How much I actually..."
"How much I actually care and appreciate her. I can't put it into words. I don't speak well. I love her with everything I have. Just wish I could show it better."
BarNumerous5751
Ask her what her love language is! She might surprise you.
"Every night..."
"Every night I turn around to cuddle him and I give his shirt a big sniff because his smell makes me relax."
Micarei
Awww. Something tells me he's already figured this out.
See, people?
Not every secret is dark or horrible. Have some faith in the world – and in the relationships with the people around you.
Have some stories of your own? Feel free to tell us more in the comments below!
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