Therefore, I feel I have earned the right to re-post a long-ago post that only two people read (according to my comments from January).
I have chosen this particular post because Thanksgiving just slipped right by with all of its reverence for gratitude. Now, we enter into a precious season (Hanukah, Christmas, New Year’s) that can easily be over-shadowed by long to-do lists, exhausting lines and crowded stores, and a fear that you’re just not going to be able to get it all done.
This post reminds me of what’s really important.
I Choose Us
It’s all about family. As I get older, I realize this more and more. The most important thing in life is all about relationships and the connections you have with the significant people in your life. No matter what is going on in my life, no matter the things I have or don’t have, no matter the health I am in, life is always a little better with the people I love close to me. There is nothing more important.
There used to be a time when it was very important to me to go out and be part of the “social scene.” That has become unimportant to me, and it amazes me to think back to when I looked forward to being at places that were loud, crowded, and hoppin’. I would get bored and complain if my husband wanted to be somewhere SITTING and chatting. Nowadays, if my husband and I actually have a rare opportunity to go out without Parker, the only kind of place I would want to go would be a place to sit and sip wine and talk and connect with my husband and friends. And when I go out, I want to be home and in my bed between 10:00 and 11:00 pm (which would already be past my bedtime). The fact that I prefer to go somewhere to SIT is on my list of reasons I know I am getting older (along with using the word “hoppin” and buying a one piece swimsuit and cover up skirt).
Before having Parker, I thought we’d be the glamorous couple that has a very regular babysitter and still gets gussied up to go out a couple times a month. I thought, “We won’t have to change our lifestyle THAT much.”
Well, I honestly quite enjoy going out to dinner as a family and going home to watch a Pixar movie (isn’t Pixar great?!). If I’m being very truthful, planning a night out for Richard and me without Parker still makes me anxious.
So, the bottom line is, given the choice, I choose Friday night family movie nights. I choose take-out Chinese and wine at home. I choose going to the restaurants with good kids’ menus. I choose Saturday morning play dates with my friend and her children. I choose to make the people in my life my priority. I choose us.
17 comments:
Yes Pixar is great!
It's amazing how having a family can completely change the way you feel about things. I think if I had my own little one I would feel the same way. I'd choose chinese over a lot of things though :p
This was a gorgeous post! I love your appreciation for your family-it reminds me to value my relationships more. Thank you for that!
Awesome post!!
ditto!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a lovely, sweet post. I don't know anyone that wouldn't completely agree with everything you've said here.
You have your priorities in order, sweetie.
Can I get an Amen? I just said this very thing to my friend the other day. Hubs and I went on a date night and she was like "oh that was quick, you guys should have done something after dinner." And the thing is, we thought about it! And at the end of the day, we watched some episodes of Dexter on Tivo. And honestly? While my dinner was awesome, cuddling up on the couch with a bottle of wine was better.
Yes, yes, and yes. It's about connections and relationships and recognizing what's important. From your mouth to my mind. I get it.
It truly is shocking just how wrong we are about what will and won't change after kids... Priorities change real people go with that. Glad you re found this post
I choose family restaurants and stay-at-home movie nights too! Before having Lil' Lewie, I thought my husband and I would still continue to travel all the time and go to world party destinations--oh, how priorities change, and should I dare say, for the better. I LOVE our life now--SIMPLE.
So so true. I'll be over with my brood for Family Take out and Wine night. :)
Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma What's For Dinner
www.mawhats4dinner.com
What a wonderful post lady, thank you for sharing it!
LOL-I know the feeling. Some of my best posts were in my blog days where only one person read my blog, and that was my mom.
I've also been going through this recently, the whole thing of figuring out where my priorities are and realizing where it's most important and fulfilling to spend my time. I'm happy for you guys :-)
Good sense of priorities!
So sweet! Life definitely changes after kids.
Sorry I missed this post, but thanks for the redo. Great post and I hear you. I didn't think we'd go out much after KLV but we rarely go out. And while I don't miss it much I do feel the need to get out with my husband more. It's important to hang out with just him. Isn't it nice that you have a choice; that you have your family.
Great post and great choice. I also choose my family and we often have movie night too, though my kids are old enough to watch PG13 movies now.
I love this post. I think family is extremely important and hate the fact I am living away from them. From your posts it seems you have a wonderful family and I hope to have the same one day!
I just wish that more people had your sense of priorities!
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