Two years ago my head would have been in a completely different place right now. Late afternoon, on a warm Friday, before a long weekend. I would have been texting friends lining up a happy hour at a bar with a patio, good beer on tap and excellent wings or calling my husband and hinting that I wanted a date night. I would have been thinking about what to wear and whether my hair would need much help to get from the messy, frustrated ponytail of the workday to cute and tossled. Saturday’s plans would include sleeping in, working out and picnics or parties. And somewhere along the weekend there would most certainly be shopping.
Instead, I’m thinking about how tonight will be like every other night this week. I will go straight home and change into my sweats. 30 minutes after I get home, I will be feeding my daughter and 30 minutes after that it’s bathtime, followed by her bottle and bed. My sweats are ratty but they match the messy ponytail and I won’t care if C spits peas at me while I feed her. Once she’s settled into bed, Craig and I will watch TV, exchange “how was your days”, read the paper and play on the the internet (Hi Twitter!).
Our weekend will still include picnics and parties, but they will be scheduled around naptime and bedtime. Working out is usually a thing of the past, but maybe we’ll take a couple of walks with the baby in her stroller or in the Baby Bjorn on Craig’s chest. Sweats and ponytails will again be the wardrobe selection and there’s a good chance that on at least one of these days I’ll be lucky to shower.
On one hand, I feel a little bit sad and miss the excited feeling I would have been getting just about now. But on another, I will soon get to see my little girl, she will smile and reach for me and I’ll forget all about what I’m not doing tonight. If the weather holds out, she will take her first dip in the pool and, without hesitation, I can say that I would rather have that moment than all the happy hours and shopping trips in the world.
Fingers and toes are crossed for hot, sunny days and a splashing baby in our future.
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I love this. I remember my Friday nights, filled with anticipation of the fun to come. I do miss them at times.
And although I wouldn’t trade time with Bella for the world, I also have to admit that I have zero energy to even want to do that stuff anymore. A shower wears me out. Getting ready for a night of fun? I start looking for my slippers to calm me down.
So I understand. And your post just made my night a little brighter.
I totally miss the carefree days before children. And the sleep, oh man. But at the same time I really love my new life. It’s definitely a challenge to have a social life as well as romance with the hubs though. But those sweet cheeks are so worth it.
Yes, we’re about to fall asleep on the couch as we do most Fridays! I will say that when you add more children to the mix and then send two of them to the grandparents, having just one at home DOES seem like a party!
I miss happy hours, almost as much as I miss sleeping in until noon. My idea of sleeping in nowadays is getting up at 7:15.
How times change. But so worth it. You said it perfectly.
I couldn’t agree more. I’ll be happily sporting my sweats and ball cap all weekend long too … and loving it! And I have to say I kind of enjoy that it feels like I finally have a little more control over our time now that we have a baby because I don’t let anyone make us feel pressured to stay longer than we want anywhere.
Enjoy your weekend and time with your adorable daughter (and hubby too)!
I love to look back and see where I was 2, 5 10 years ago. I agree, I’d not trade now for any time in the past.
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–Jen
It’s been so long since I anticipated a holiday weekend without kids (ours are 16 and 10) that I really have to streeeeetch my memory of what it was like before we were parents! Now I look forward to our Friday night Pizza/Movie night that we have every week, lots of laughter at meal times and my morning hugs I get every morning. I think the weekends we have now are more fun than any clubbing, shopping or staying up late could ever be (besides, at my age I’m lucky if I make it till 9 pm)!
Hope you have a happy weekend!
I really miss those days, but I wouldn’t trade this for anything. Watching my son grow up is the best thing ever. Besides, I’m always too tired to do anything anyway.
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