1  | 

I found this helpful Thank You! Your vote will be tallied soon!

Sometimes it takes other people to realize how good you've got it

Last weekend was totally crazy. John and I dropped the kids off at his parents' house for the weekend, and along with another couple (who dropped their kids off at a relative's, too), hopped on an airplane to San Francisco.

We left after work on Friday night; got to our hotel past 11 p.m., changed into club clothes and headed out.

Aww yeah baby, let's pretend we're 23 instead of 33, right? We danced until the lights came up, then headed back to the hotel to crash.

The next day, we got up fairly early when sun poured in our hotel room. Sun? We hadn't seen it in months, living in Seattle, so we quickly headed out to enjoy a day of sightseeing and shopping in San Francisco. But we were back at the hotel for a nap in the early evening - the main event, the reason we flew to San Fran, was coming up. We were about to see our favorite musician, a DJ, who was playing a four-hour set at a huge club in the city. Midnight to four a.m., of course - that's how this scene works!

We met a ton of people at the club. One of them was a 22-year-old girl, who was completely in awe of these two couples. Parents. In our early 30s. Fortunate enough to have decent jobs - and enough spending money to enjoy a weekend getaway. With enough family support that we CAN get out and away without the kids. Hanging out in a super-fun club and looking like we belong there at 2 in the morning. Enjoying ourselves, having great friends and being obviously in love with our spouses.

"You guys just have the perfect life!" she said, and I could understand why. On the surface, what isn't perfect?

Her comment really made me think. If you were to ask me, I'd definitely say my life isn't perfect. But...honestly, what do I really have to complain about? I have two gorgeous kids who are so much fun. I have a husband who adores me and even after 10 years together we're still out having fun! I love my job, and I am lucky enough that it affords me opportunities to travel, to have a nice house, to drive a nice car.

What more should I ask for?

Nothing. Nothing at all. (Except maybe to stop inventing problems.)

But I do want to say one thing that I think is important: it's more than just a luxury to go out and play with my husband. It's a necessity.

Oh, it doesn't have to be a whole weekend away; that was a once-in-a-while thing, and it's just not reasonable or fair to the kids to do frequently.

But a solid relationship is the foundation for everything else that's good in our lives. And it has to be a relationship that's based on a lot more than co-parenting and sharing a household.

Life isn't all fun and games, of course - but it's also not all work and responsibility. It's the balance between them that enables us to have this life that looks perfect.