A common piece of advice given to married people is to try to take occasional vacations together, without children.
When the Big Man and I go on vacation, usually we’re with not only our children, but also with his parents or my parents. For the first time in a long time, the Big Man and I went away this weekend together, with no family.
It was great.
As much joy as children bring, they’re also a source of conflict. There’s more work to be done, more aggravation, and less freedom. Days have to be scheduled around their meals, naps, and interests.
When it’s just the two of us, we find it easy to be agreeable, accommodating, and thoughtful. It’s a reminder of the romantic love that is still there, hidden beneath the surface of everyday bustle.
Also, when we’re at home, we get absorbed in our own tasks. Nursery-school children do “parallel play,” where they play side by side without actually engaging with each other. The Big Man and I have a lot of “parallel play” time when he’s working on his laptop and I’m working on my laptop, or he’s checking the Internet and I’m answering emails.
During our get-away weekend, though, we spent minimal time on electronic devices, and more time with each other.
One of my resolutions is to Spend money to further my happiness-project goals, and spending money on a weekend trip was good bang for the buck.
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