I take no credit for the photos above. New York, Greece, Cozumel, Bali, and San Francisco.
I had a friend many years ago that told me that when it comes to her marriage and her relationship with her husband it always comes before her children. When I first heard this, I was appalled. My whole life I had heard my mom say to people, "My children come first." This is the way that I had always lived my life from the time I had a kid (at the ripe old age of 17). I could not believe that this friend was telling me this. How can you put anyone or anything in front of their children??
Well I think that I have finally realized that this friend of mine was on to something. I have an abnormally strong marriage. Donny and I joke that there has to be something wrong with us because we have been together for way to long to still like each other so much. Donny is my world, and my life definitely revolves around him, BUT..... I have always clung to my children.
My youngest, CM, is now five and will be going into kindergarten this year. My middle, IanH, is almost nine. My oldest, Lu, just turned eleven. I just left them all of the first time for two days in January. It was the hardest decision of my life. It is not because they cannot live without me or that they will miss me too much. It is because I was worried that I was going to miss some important event in their lives. Guess what, I didn't miss anything besides some ice cream sundaes and mini golf with Grandma.
Don't get me wrong, I love my children and want to be there for everything, but my relationship with my husband needs more attention. How can we be great parents if we are not first a great couple? I want to experience things with my husband that I don't want my kids involved in. I want memories for just us. I want to travel the world, but I want to do it with Donny.
I have decided that this friend was right all along. It is time that my husband came before my children. Do not take this as I am going to neglect my children. I still plan on being there for them in every way possible, but that doesn't mean that Donny and I have to miss out on all these great years as a couple because we are too busy being parents. It is time that we start planning those trips, and making those memories. I think that we will start small....San Francisco.