A Quiet Date
by
While in the office yesterday, I remembered my sister was taking Sun for the night. I had forgotten to give Sun an extra hug. When I got home yesterday evening, the house was quiet. Quiet like it just isn’t anymore; quiet the way it used to always be. It was serene but hollow.
CS and I made reservations for dinner at a restaurant friends had given us a gift certificate for last Christmas. We were shown to a small table with a white linen tablecloth. I didn’t even think to look if this place had highchairs. We ordered a bottle of wine. And we talked; we talked about politics, the economy, our jobs, our very lives, and, of course, we talked about Sun. We talked and talked. Just the two of us, without interruptions to get food to Sun or move things out of her reach or entertain her to keep her from getting too loud and disturbing other diners. No, it was just us, a couple. It was decadent, like having my entire body dipped in chocolate.
But I couldn’t help but feel like I was visiting someone else’s life. Like the life of the friends that gave us the gift certificate, who don’t yet have children. They, like we used to, go to such restaurants at their leisure. They don’t give thought to whether it is too quiet a place for a baby or whether the menu will have something a young toddler would eat. Ah, that freedom! How I miss it.
Having Sun was the most positive life-changing event of my life. And I count my blessings every day. However, there are victims to having a child: quality time alone with your spouse; quietness.
I took great joy in knowing I would not be awoken early this morning by Sun. But my internal clock went off just the same. So I groggily lay in bed. Relishing that I could hear birds chirping. I haven’t heard the birds in over a year.
I don’t think there is anything better than when you find yourself in a position to appreciate something. Not long for it, not miss it, but appreciate having it.
Nice one.
Xbox4NappyRash’s last blog post..While you were sleeping
Maybe I’ll feel different when I have a 14 month old and a newborn next year (yikes! i’m insane!), but right now I still don’t miss my old life at all. Hubby and I do date night once a month, and we cherish the time to talk and relax, but we don’t miss doing it without scheduling it. I joke that it’s because we partied so hard for so long that we’re exhausted. For the nine years before E was born we traveled the world, stayed up all night drinking/bar-hopping, and worked weird-houred, exciting jobs. So having a baby seems like one big relaxing vacation to me on most days, and I’m relieved when I can tell my friends (none of whom have kids) “no I can’t get blithering drunk with you again, I have to stay home with my baby”. I’m really enjoying learning how to garden, cooking with what I grow, fixing up my house, etc. It’s just another life phase I suppose. Most days I snuggle on the sofa with the family at the end of the day and relish in the peace of being HOME for a change
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Sounds like you had a great evening!
jen’s last blog post..Kraft’s Great Pumpkin Cake
Knightly and I had a Owl-less overnight last night and spend about 3X longer in the breaskfast buffet than we usually do. Even when other people’s kids made noise, it wasn’t our responsiblity to answer, or pick something up, or say no to a second donut, etc. Silent, serene bliss. It felt good.
And then, when we got home, and Owl asked me to read him a book, that felt good, too. I feel so lucky to be able to experience two mutually exclusive pleasures on the same day.
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Sounds lovely, even if you did wake up before you had to. Sometimes just lying in bed is as good as sleeping in.
That is nice! And XBox nit the nail on the head. It’s a rare privilege to be able to appreciate what you’ve got.
Ed (zoesdad)’s last blog post..A Sunday Repost–Heroes
That was great and so true. I love my kids to bits but sometimes it’s nice just to be the woman part of me and not primarily the mum part. To not have to think of anyone but yourself for a few hours is heaven.
Big kid nights out are few and far between. I’m glad you had such a nice time.
Tara R.’s last blog post..What if I’m wrong?
Having two ‘generations’ of children with two husbands, I sometimes miss the in-between time when J and I had a life unto ourselves when the 1st were with their dad. But then, some little diva runs in the room and gives me a kiss and my heart swells.