Usually the focus of this article is around the little ones, but after a much needed 24
hour get away with my husband – I’ve chosen to take a different route. A few weeks
ago, my youngest officially turned one year old. She was with me at a conference in
Denver for her actual birthday, her dad was working his normal hectic hospital
schedule, my 13 year old was in Iowa visiting his grandfather, and my 15 year old
was (and still is) working at Lion’s Camp in Leesville. I’d like to say this was out of
the ordinary, but as many parents who are reading this right now might realize this
is a fairly normal schedule for our family.
Needless to say, time with my husband is sporadic at best. This past week he
politely put his foot down and demanded we have an impromptu, kid-free get away.
I anxiously agreed worried about things I had to take care of at work, a house that
needed a little TLC after our one year old’s birthday party, leaving my baby over
night with someone, and the list goes on and on. As we pulled out the driveway and
started our journey, the list of worries began to disappear from site. With the radio
turned off, my husband and I just talked for hours. We caught up on things going on
in our lives, discussed the children, touched on politics, dabbled a little in religion,
and made a plan for the rest of our get away. We arrived in New Orleans, spent the
night at the Roosevelt, slept late, visited the Preservation Resource Center, had a
wonderful BBQ lunch while watching Croatia beat England in soccer, walked around
the city for a bit, then had a working dinner at a fabulous Italian restaurant in
Metairie. It wasn’t much, but it was time – time devoted to my husband without
worry or distraction. And that was exactly what he, and I, needed to stay close in
our scattered lives.
In the upcoming year, I’d like to challenge you to take a break and devote worry-
free, distraction-free time to your partner. It doesn’t have to be anything
extravagant, but think about a dedicated date night. Want more than a date night?
Take the same day off as your partner and make it a date day! Another thought, split
to cost of season tickets to the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, PASA, or Broadway in
Lafayette with another couple. Make a plan to have the other couple be the
designated babysitter when it’s your night out and return the favor when it’s their
turn for a night out. Whether you realize it or not, you and your partner need this
time!
