My wife and I hardly ever disagree, and honestly, I consider that one of life’s greatest blessings. But on the rare occasions when a little cloud passes over our sunny skies, we have a charming little agreement in place: apologies must come with a thoughtful gesture, one that we know will bring joy to the other person.
Now, Mrs. is an exceptional cook. So her go-to apology is whipping up something absolutely magical. Meanwhile, I can barely manage to make a halfway decent tuna sandwich, so I’ve had to get a little more... creative.
Here are some of my personal favourites:
Harbour Surprise
This was one apology I was especially proud of. After a minor hiccup in our usually smooth-sailing relationship, I texted her to meet me at the harbour. She wasn’t exactly thrilled at first. Still a bit grumpy, I’ll admit, but she showed up anyway. And there, waiting for her, was a surprise: tickets for a Sydney dinner cruise.
She was shocked! Safe to say, she really enjoyed the experience and the apology was accepted!
The Post-it Note Redemption
Sometimes, words are hard, especially when your brain is stuck in “I messed up” mode. The easiest way to let them out is on post-its. I grabbed a stack of neon Post-its and scribbled down 20 reasons I love her. From the obvious (“Your cooking is incredible”) to the sappy (“You make life feel like home”), I stuck them all over the house like an emotional scavenger hunt.
She found the last one stuck to the fridge door, with a doodled heart and a sheepish “Sorry, I was a dork.”
Origami Flower Bouquet
This one was a labour of love... and a lot of crumpled paper. After a silly disagreement (I may or may not have forgotten to take the trash out again), I decided to channel my inner craft master and make something with my own hands. Enter: origami. I used to be very skilled at it when I was younger so it was just a matter of practising.
After many foldings and one minor paper cut later, I managed to create a colourful bouquet of origami flowers. When I handed it to her (quite dramatically, I’d say), she looked at the bouquet... then at me... then burst out laughing. She now keeps it on her desk.
The Compliment Storm
The most effective and the one I go for frequently. When words are your strength, use them! After minor disagreements that leave us both a bit off, I make up by showering her with compliments, non-stop, all day long. No sarcasm, no teasing, just genuine appreciation.
I text sweet compliments to her, whisper them to her while passing by, and even leave notes in her shoes. She is usually blushing by lunch, and by dinner, she would forgive me and ask if I had bumped my head. Mission: accomplished.
Fights happen. It’s normal. But with these tricks, I’ve learned that the key to resolving a disagreement isn’t about winning or being right. It’s about finding ways to make your better half (and blush) laugh even when life throws a tantrum. After all, we’re a team! And if all else fails, maybe I’ll just offer to buy the next round of cookies.
