…aka the Most Prudent Man in my world, aka My Sweet Husband.
(This was originally a post, but at the very least the man deserves his own page. He puts up with a lot.)
I’ve been getting some grief for referring to my beloved as The Most Prudent Man (in the World), and okay, I can imagine that it might have some negative connotation. Prudent=Prude, or something.
It’s not the case. Prudence has many virtues, and I’d like to clear up any lingering vision of a dour, persnickety, or prudish nature that might be clouding the picture of my man. Let’s start with the dictionary.
Synonyms for prudence: discretion, foresight, forethought, circumspection.
“These nouns refer to the exercise of good judgment, common sense, and even caution, especially in the conduct of practical matters,” says freedictionary, further stating the following:
Discretion suggests wise self-restraint, as in resisting a rash impulse.
Foresight implies the ability to foresee and make provision for what may happen.
Forethought suggests advance consideration of future eventualities.
Circumspection implies discretion, as out of concern for moral or social repercussions.
And believe you me, all of that is highly applicable in the instant case.
I’ve written before on some of the benefits of being married to the MPM, and one drawback in particular, and I stand by all that, but let’s expand here a bit on the dictionary definition:
The MPM is considerate of others at all times. Sometimes to a fault; this trait occasionally irritates the bejesus out of me, and he’s working on remembering that sometimes it’s better to be considerate of one’s wife than of, say, a total stranger on an airplane. But overall, I recognize the virtue.
The MPM is unselfish. I don’t think this can ever be a fault in someone you’re married to.
Despite both the above, the MPM is by no means a pushover or a doormat.
The MPM is risk-averse. Sometimes to a fault. I am not. Sometimes to a fault. We kind of balance each other out.
The MPM does not gossip or malign. While occasionally annoying if I have something really juicy I’d like to chew on in the privacy of my own home, again I recognize the virtue inherent therein and, in my better moments, aspire thereto.
The MPM does not have unduly high expectations. I do, and am the first to say it’s one of my downfalls in the quest for happiness and life satisfaction. I’m trying to learn from him, and from Homer Simpson, that low/realistic expectations aren’t necessarily a bad thing.
Differing from the problematic Expectation, the MPM has high standards for personal conduct. His own even more than that of others, which is unequivocally admirable.
The MPM is well-prepared. At all times. For someone who is a bit on the seat-of-the-pants side, this often plays out well to my benefit. Especially when he lets me wear the raingear he packed despite the painfully blue skies above. And my scoffing.
He may lose the moniker over the course of blogging time, but when it does pop up let there be no mistake: Overall, I’m a big fan of prudence. And of the MPM.
