Yesterday was my and Jon’s ninth wedding anniversary. 9 years. Almost a decade. Our marriage has lasted longer than TomKat.
We generally don’t make too much of a fuss about our anniversary. Gifts are usually small if any at all, there are cards exchanged, and we might make it to dinner by ourselves. Jon doesn’t quite know it yet, but I have big plans for our 10th. It involves shipping the kids off, escaping to a tropical paradise, and being hand fed peeled grapes and fruity drinks by cabana boys. And Jon can come too if he wants.
In the meantime, I thought I’d try to plan a little romantic surprise here. Last week I secured a babysitter, and after asking around for suggestions I made a reservation at one of the most popular romantic places in town, a French restaurant called The Refectory. And since I had done all this in secrecy, this was my gift to Jon. Viola!
But, Murphy’s Law would dictate that things would not go according to plan. The babysitter texted me on Tues, saying that she’d been in the hospital all weekend with mono. Well, now. Crap. A frantic hour of calls and texts to all our reserves proved unfruitful, and suddenly we found ourselves with Zero plans for our anniversary.
I was determined to make something happen though. The wheels began to turn on Plan B. I thought, “Hey! The kids are in school Thursday morning, why not go to breakfast to celebrate?” Good idea, n’est pas?
Jon got back in to town on Wednesday afternoon, and as the evening went on, I could hear Plan B slowly deflate. Jon had come down with a cold and I could tell he wasn’t going to be in any condition to head out early in the morning. And the cough that’s been nagging me for a week suddenly got worse. There would be no making out or romance, that’s for sure.
Still, I was determined to rally. We need to celebrate our love, dammit! While I threatened to cancel our anniversary all together, Plan C materialized. We’d take the kids with us and celebrate as a family by heading to an upscale Mexican restaurant that we’d wanted to try that had a decent kids menu. Jon took a smorgasbord of drugs, I doped up on Mucinex and we went on our way.
Now, let me interject some observations in here for a second. Kids, though they mean well, could really care less about anyone else’s special day if it’s not theirs. My two fully understand the concept of their own birthdays and relish in being celebrated gloriously for a day. For my birthday a month ago? Well, there were happy birthday wishes throughout the day, and they served me breakfast in bed, but they still fought every chance they got, still chose not to listen to our requests, and my daughter served up a giant plate of crankiness halfway through lunch.
When we got to the restaurant, I took a second after we sat down and resorted to begging. “Please, guys, this is Mommy and Daddy’s special day. Can you PLEASE behave in this nice restaurant? That means eating your food with UTENSILS, no sugar packet wars and no sprawling out on the booth seat like it’s a day bed.”
All in all? They did pretty well. Or, at least they tried to. Anniversary dinner with your kids though isn’t the same. Trying to hold a conversation with your spouse so you can “connect” while simultaneously stopping to say “please sit on your bottom and stop eating ketchup like it’s soup” doesn’t really hold the same romantic vision that I had originally wanted.
Still, this is our life. And these kids are the proof of our love. A reminder to Jon and I that we chose each other to head out on this adventure together. For better or worse. In sickness and in health. And if this is the only anti-romantic anniversary we’ve had to endure over the last 9 years, I consider myself very lucky.
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Great post and congratulations! I remember these mishaps when my kids were little, babysitter backing out, kid geting sick lol. I miss those days now
I’m sure there will come a day when we’ll be on our own and missing the chance to celebrate with our kids (or them even wanting to be with us!). Thanks for putting things in perspective.
Congratulations! I love your picture. What a great memory.
Thanks! It was truly a great day…
Aw, you deserve a medal for trying so hard hun. My husband and I had our 17th anniversary this summer and for like the 10th year in a row, we did as you did. Tiny gifts, cards, dinner and a movie. Half of those years five of the six kids went with us.
But next year? Girl…it’ll be great. Frosty drinks, the tropics…ahhhh.
I may join you and Jon <3
I did give it the ole college try, so I guess I get some brownie points out of it. Yes, next year it WILL be great, even if I have to take out a second mortgage on our house.
Congrats! Gorgeous photo! LOL – yes dinners with kids are NEVER the same are they?
Leigh
Thanks, Leigh. Is it too much to ask to want a quiet meal with my husband that doesn’t involve multiple trips to the bathroom? That’s all I’m sayin…
at least you were brave enough to take the kids OUT!! I still have a hard time keeping mine still at Mickey D’s!!
Congrats on 9 year-Hope you make that 10 one come true =)
Thanks, Pamela. I will do anything and everything I can to make next year a kid-free celebration. But we’ll see. They do okay in restaurants, as long as we keep them busy and occupied. But that also means focusing on the kids instead of the other adult
Lol! My hubby and I had a similar experience last year–we ended up eating dinner with the kids at IHOP. Ugh. We’ll try to make it up this year. Congratulations on your anniversary!
oooh, IHOP. I hear that’s a very romantic place! LOL. That’s the nice thing about anniversaries, though. They come around ever year (if we’re lucky, right?).