Top 10 Reasons You Know You’re Married to a Finn

 

1. 

   Perfect size coffee mug for husband.

   Long periods of silence are his norm and not uncomfortable. (Makes for a really awkward meal when you’re sitting with the fin-laws for dinner. I’ve never ate faster in my life than when in Finland.)

2. Shows minimal emotions. (Besides the birth of our children I’ve rarely seen strong emotions. Bonus: He’ll never need Botox because no frown lines.)
3. Asks to put sauna in house.
4. Wants to put real burning candles on the Christmas tree. (So many answers to this. Why? How? Fire hazard! Death and destruction!)
5. Correctly pronounces name of everything in IKEA. (Equally useful and annoying. Especially when he corrects the workers on their pronunciation.)
6. Drinks unhealthy amounts of  oh so strong, super strength black coffee (We make a separate pot for my parents when they visit because they can’t drink it.)
7. Totally forgets about Thanksgiving (It’s an American holiday, remember? I fed Finnish kids a Thanksgiving meal one year. You should’ve seen their reaction to stuffing.)
8. Looks at his feet or anywhere else besides your eyes when speaking to you.
9. Hatred of all things Sweden. (It’s an ongoing national rivalry. Think Hatfield vs. McCoys, but with countries.)
10. Tries to put our children down for a nap in a stroller outside during winter. (Yes, they do this in Finland with heavy duty prams and layers of warm blankets. Over here it’s a great way to get your child kidnapped or have child protective services called for child abuse.)