I would like to make a huge understatement: parenting is hard. Really, really hard.
Yesterday Ben and I spent our 9 year anniversary in the thick of parenting. With moving in a week and a very busy work schedule for Ben, a babysitter and date night just wasn’t going to happen. But, we were determined to have a fun evening by packing a picnic and heading to the Portland Rose Gardens. It is one of our favorite places and the kids would have fun, right?
Well, by the time I headed to the Rose Gardens with the boys to meet Ben, I had fought for 2.5 hours with Josh during naptimes; his last “nap” he didn’t even fall asleep. I then sat in traffic for 45 minutes trying to get to the Rose Gardens. By the time I gave Ben a quick peck and handed a hungry, crying baby to him, I was frazzled and frustrated. We spent our picnic with a fussy baby who ate dirt and grass at every opportunity and twin five year olds who ran around like banshees.
A sign of a seasoned parent is that one knows when to cut and run. We were out of there within an hour. Josh, of course, fell asleep 2 minutes from our house without pjs on or a bottle. Poor boy was out cold, exhausted because no afternoon nap. Ben snuggled him for awhile and then we had the big decision to make: just put him to bed as is (no bottle) and risk a later wake up, or count on the fact that he’s so exhausted that he’ll basically sleep through a diaper change and feeding. We chose the later with hopes of a quiet evening with all kids asleep. Wrong choice. Josh took his 10 minute nap as a “re-charge” and proceeded to play until 9:45.
“Happy Anniversary, sweetie.”
But you know what? I think it’s days like this that DEFINE marriage. It isn’t the date nights, cruises, and special trips away from the kids. It’s being in the trenches of life together. It’s collapsing on the couch after an extremely weary day next to your spouse. It’s being okay with an ordinary day for your anniversary because you know that you’ll have a lifetime of special days together.
So, yes, “Happy 9th Anniversary, my love.” Thank you for being in the trenches of life parenthood with me. You are the most amazing husband and father I could dream of. (And next year, can we please go to Hawaii?)
My dinner date(s)
The cause of so much angst and unfortunately I never cleaned this face for the rest of the pictures.
Such a rascal! We get that look on the left a lot when we say “no”
“Please don’t run into someone, please don’t run into someone.”
The roses really were gorgeous. These white-ish yellows are my favorite every year…I love the way they contrast with the dark green leaves—almost like they glow!
We did get some great pictures! (Seth in black, Sam in blue)
Who would have known that someone that tired could stay up for almost 3 hours past his bedtime. Ugh. Did I tell you that parenting is hard? (But very rewarding!)
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