June 1, 2007
You Know I Need A Date With My Husband, Right?
My husband Doug and I will celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary on October 13th. It’s only been six years? It feels like decades. Maybe it’s because we began dating in 1998, that’s almost a decade.
During our courtship, we enjoyed dinners at great local restaurants, and tried to choose a new dinner venue each week. We both love food. I’m a steak and shrimp fan, Doug is a blackened chicken fan and we love sampling each other’s plates.
After marriage, a puppy and a baby, we find it difficult to spend quality time together. Like every other married couple, you’re thinking.
Any time away from our son is rare, and not usually spent together. We do our best to compromise, so that neither one of us goes crazy.
Doug got a 3-day fishing trip two weekends ago and in exchange I get four fabulous and highly coveted days away to attend the BlogHer conference in July.
I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am, or how much I appreciate the schedule flipping we’ve done to accommodate each other’s requests.
But I miss my husband. I’m tired of talking about laundry, diapers, the huge amount of toys overtaking our living room, who’s turn it is to sit through the movie Cars for the 20th time that day, and who’s going to make sure our little Lightning McQueen isn’t coloring on the walls.
In all honestly, I miss uninterrupted time together. And sex. I miss sex. When a toddler sleeps in your bed it’s difficult to get any. (Any relatives who may be reading, I’m sorry if I’ve made you feel uncomfortable.)
Doug works at a grocery store and his shifts vary. I’ve got a Monday through Friday job and rarely see my husband on weekends. On the rare occasions he has a weekend off, we’re usually chasing a toddler or cleaning the house.
We have actually made plans to make plans that never get made.
Babysitters are hard to come by. We rely on my parents a lot, but they find it difficult to change diapers and they feed Dawson foods he’s not used to. Like Polish sausage and sauerkraut.
My in-laws are in their 70s and our Doodlebug is a little too much for them to handle. Last time Dawson told Grandma that he wanted to play baseball and threw the ball at her knee.
The neighborhood babysitter is booked months in advance. (I’m not exaggerating. I called her last week and she said she’s booked the entire summer, and most of fall.)
It may seem like I’m whining, and I am.
I need a date with my husband. We need to get out of the house.
I didn’t believe it until the other day at the gas station.
My husband has a vice: chewing tobacco. As much as I despise it and as many times as I’ve begged him to quit, I realize it’s up to him (just like quitting smoking was up to me).
Doug asked me to pick up some of this nasty stuff on my way home from work. I reluctantly agreed. I also purchased a gallon of milk and some chips and when I put the items on the counter I asked the clerk for Disney Wintergreen tobacco.
She stared at me, then raised her eyebrow and replied, “I’m sorry, Disney Wintergreen?”
My cheeks immediately flushed with color.
“Oh my God. I cannot believe I just said that. I meant Grizzly Wintergreen. For my husband. It’s a disgusting addiction, I know. I’m so embarrassed. I have a toddler. We watch Disney’s Cars a little too often…and we never get out of the house and…now I’m rambling to a complete stranger. And…I’m quiet now.”
“It’s quite alright,” the clerk laughed. I paid for my purchases and left the store.
At home, I gave Doug his “Disney Wintergreen” told him the story and we shared a good adult laugh.
We need more of those laughs. Over dinner, with a bottle of wine, (or maybe just a cheap motel room?) without worrying about how we’ll pay the babysitter for dealing with Lightning McQueen incarnate.
(Yes…we need a date soon, before I start saying things like “alphabet poop” instead of “soup”.)
Do you need a date? Enter the contest below!
The Parent Blogger’s Network is teaming up with E-Harmony Marriage to offer you the opportunity to win a $100 American Express Gift Card to spend on a dinner date with your spouse/partner. And if that doesn’t cut it (because dinner with the kids is not really dinner), they are including $100 to pay the babysitter.
The rules are pretty simple: Anytime on Friday June 1, write a post on the following topic:
“You know you need a date with your husband/partner when… [you fill in the blank]
Make sure to link marriage.eharmony.com (a fantastic new online alternative to marriage counseling) and parentbloggers.com somewhere in your post, and send the link to your post to parentbloggers@gmail.com.
Posted by Dana @ 7:51 am • Contests, Giveaways & Sweepstakes, Uncategorized
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June 1st, 2007 at 8:48 am, Mama K Says:
Funny story! I think a cheap hotel sounds great too. hehe.
Found you via the blast. Here’s my entry: http://mamaknj.blogspot.com/2007/06/you-know-you-need-date.html
June 1st, 2007 at 10:21 am, nutmeg Says:
I’d be willing to try Disney Wintergreen. Do they have Disney Bubblegum flavor?
June 1st, 2007 at 10:37 am, motherofbun Says:
Gah. That is HARD. HARD having a toddler. Yes, you guys need a night out.
June 1st, 2007 at 10:46 am, Cheryl Says:
LMAO at Disney Wintergreen. // By the way. Sending you my love in regards to the previous post. It’s your own journey, so I won’t try giving advice. Just know that I care about you (as do a whole bunch of other people on here), and go ahead and vent about stuff like that whenever you want. That’s what blogging is for. Sometimes just labeling the feelings can give you a kickstart to letting go of some of the tension.
June 1st, 2007 at 11:04 am, Dana Says:
Nutmeg, I just snickered loud enough for the boss to ask what is so funny. Hah!
Lisa, I think so. I really think so!
Cheryl, thank you, sweetie! I’m happy to have this fourm!
Mama K! I’m on my way to check you out. I mean, your blog.
June 1st, 2007 at 11:33 am, Nichole Says:
You need a night out far more than we do. I hope you win it!
My husband has a crazy schedule, but I’m staying home with our daughter so my schedule is pretty flexible. We try to have lunch together once a week, and we reserve Sunday nights for “dates.” We rarely go out on Sundays, but we try to get dressed up after Piper goes to bed. It’s a little goofy, but it’s fun. And it’s nice to get out of my “Mom uniform” every now and then.
June 1st, 2007 at 11:51 am, MikeM Says:
Great blog. Great Post. I will be back for more
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June 1st, 2007 at 11:51 am, Mama K Says:
Thanks for stopping by!
I forgot to mention that we have lots in common. DH and I started dating in 1998 and we also will be married 6 years this year (tomorrow actually).
June 1st, 2007 at 12:13 pm, dana Says:
Nichole! I agree. It is nice to get out of the Mommy Suit!
Thanks Mike! Glad you like me! Or the blog.
Mama K…we are destined to be great friends.
June 1st, 2007 at 12:13 pm, dana Says:
Oh! And Happy Anniversary to you and your hubby, Mama K!!
June 1st, 2007 at 12:28 pm, slouching mom Says:
Heh. Yeah, I’d say you need a night out.
Sigh.
We all do, don’t we.
June 1st, 2007 at 12:58 pm, Dana Says:
Yes, slouching mom! We shoooore do!
June 1st, 2007 at 6:12 pm, tanyetta Says:
happy anniversary! i found your blog by typing in moms blogs in google.
stop by my blog when you can
thanks
June 1st, 2007 at 6:26 pm, Leslie Says:
Fabulous post and a great contest!
June 1st, 2007 at 8:58 pm, FENICLE Says:
Wasn’t this fun to rant on about your love life???? I think a cheap hotel can provide all sorts of entertainment! Think how many times you could visit with the prize money?
June 2nd, 2007 at 7:03 am, Amber Says:
When my hubby and I first got married, we vowed to have a date night every week. And then we had kids.
Even though we have a fantastic mother-in-law who regularly takes them so we can go on nice, luxurious cruises and the occasional weekend away, it is not enough. Last night, she took the kids for ice cream while hubs and I had a blissful hour to ourselves.
We went to Home Depot. Maybe we’re more of the problem, here.
June 2nd, 2007 at 8:53 pm, Dana Says:
Tanyetta! Thanks for stopping by! I’ll come visit you right now!
Leslie, thank you! I still can’t believe what I said!
Fenicle, the cheap hotel room idea is great. But then Hubs says a hot tub suite would be better. Of course!
Amber, I’m with ya. We head to Menards to buy flowers. I’m a gardening freak these days!
September 27th, 2008 at 6:00 pm, dating parents Says:
nice website keep up to good work