Implements hidden in plain sight

When you become parents, the home changes in ways you could never have imagined. Spaces that once belonged just to the two of you now hum with small voices, toys, and the rhythm of family life. Yet amid all that love and chaos, couples still need their own private connection — those sacred pieces of marriage that remain just between husband and wife.

As our children grew, my husband and I quickly learned the art of discretion. We realized that privacy isn’t about secrecy; it’s about protecting something precious. Intimacy, affection, and the rituals that strengthen our marriage aren’t meant for little eyes or curious questions. They belong in the quiet corners of adulthood — the moments that remind us we’re not just parents, but partners.

We also learned that everyday life offers plenty of cover for keeping things private. The same household tools that fill drawers and hang in bathrooms can blend quietly into the background. Brushes on the bathroom counter. A belt on hubby’s waist. An assortment of wooden spoons in a kitchen drawer, heck even an old dowel in the laundry room can trigger me to shudder when I see them.  All these things tell an innocent story to anyone else, but they carry private meaning for the two of us. The point isn’t what they are, but how ordinary life can hold layers of significance when love and trust wield them.

Keeping those symbols of connection tucked away became a small act of mindfulness. A locked drawer, a high shelf, or simply being careful to tidy up after a meaningful moment helped us maintain the line between married life and family life. It wasn’t shame — it was respect: for our marriage, for our children’s innocence, and for the balance that keeps both thriving.

Over time, that habit of privacy deepened our bond. It reminded us that even while our world revolves around parenting, we still share something uniquely ours. Our home can hold both — laughter in the kitchen and quiet understanding behind closed doors.

In a way, those ordinary household items came to symbolize something bigger: that love doesn’t have to be loud to be strong. Sometimes, it’s found in the smallest gestures of care, trust, and discretion.

And one day, when our kids are grown and building their own families, I hope they’ll see that — that marriage is about partnership, about finding ways to stay connected and respectful in every season. 

Now I just need to sound proof our room. Just kidding, that is what the barn is for.