I’m so sick of nagging my husband. I have been after him for months. I really don’t know how many times I have to beg and plead and wheedle and cajole before he will finally do what I’ve been asking him to do - take a break from the family and go biking with his best friend.

It is amazing when I think about it. When I met my husband, I was a jaded 24-year-old looking for a good time. He was a heavy metal fan, guitar player, chain-smoking truck driver. I had no idea that we’d fall in love, get married and have kids. I didn’t ask him to explain his philosophies on marriage and parenthood when we started dating. I had no clue what I would want or need from the father of my children, so there was no way for me to find out if he would be the right guy for me and our future offspring. It was pure luck.

And what luck it was. Now don’t get me wrong; we’ve had our rough patches. Like any couple, we have periods when we’re “out of sync.” But all I have to do is read the paper, watch the news, or spend time with other couples to realize what a prize I lucked into.

Last night, for example, we were at a party. Around 9:00, they started a card tournament. Because our two kids were present, my husband declined to play but insisted on my playing. He chased our rambunctious 5-year-old and held our sleepy 1-year-old FOR 3 HOURS while I played cards. I watched the other fathers of little children saunter around, kid-free, drinking beer, talking about their guys’ nights (or weekends) out, showing off their latest toys. I felt so sorry for my husband, walking our 20-pound baby to sleep while his wife enjoyed herself; I kept trying to trade places with him, but he wouldn’t do it. He was ridiculously proud of what he was doing, determined to be different. Somehow, while the rest of the men his age are desperately trying to maintain the freedom and selfishness of their bachelorhood, my man discovered that basking in the responsibility and sacrifice of father/husbandhood has its own rewards.

So he doesn’t spend money on “big boy toys,” and he doesn’t ditch his family every other weekend to go out with his buddies. But he does have two children who are quite sure he hung the moon and would do absolutely anything for him. And he has a mother-in-law who constantly sings his praises to anyone who’ll listen. And his wife’s girlfriends all think he’s some kind of saint. And I’d be willing to bet that he was the only dad at that party who got lucky last night. (Can you blame me? I mean, what could be sexier than a guy who would do anything for his wife and kids?!)

Right now he’s downstairs doing the dishes. I didn’t ask him to. But I am going to ask him again about that biking trip. Nag, nag, nag.