I just finished bathing, reading to and tucking in two small boys. While I was nursing Naveen, I was trying to remember what I used to do on Friday nights before the kids. Flashes of recall came to me. In my twenties, Friday nights were filled with the appeal of anything can happen. There was usually the panic of figuring out what to wear, where to go, and what to drink. In my early thirties, it became more about nice dinners out, affordable but good wine and figuring out what to wear.
Now here I am on the cusp of my forties, and it entails, figuring out what the toddler will eat for dinner, how I can tweak the bedtime routine to encourage the infant to sleep longer than two hours and the countdown to me-time on the couch with maybe a glass of wine and a turn on the laptop. And what I wear? Well that's the easy part.
It's not exciting in the same way but it's so good in a different way. There's something solid and satisfying in getting kids bathed and settled in. It feels right to provide the comfort of a routine, to indulge them when they ask for one more story. And that glass of wine?
It feels earned.
What are you doing on this Friday night?
This post is also inspired by The Red Dress Club who asked us to write a little something about feeling grateful.
Your baby is simply adorable. Look at that squishy face! Anyway, so true about how our Friday nights change over the years, especially once we have kids.
ReplyDeleteDrinking wine, on the laptop. Wearing yoga pants.
ReplyDeleteYou're spooky!
Our Friday nights are pretty quiet most of the time. In fact, I prefer calm and quiet. And there is definitely some satisfaction to be had when the kids stay in their routine and everything is on track and on schedule. They do better and I do better.
ReplyDeleteAnd me time - I don't know what that's like at the moment. And clothes, I have to agree with you. That's easy because no matter what I wear, I have to change multiple times in the day do to sticky hands, runny noses, spilled food, or who knows what else. But regardless, I wouldn't have it any other way - I'm just ecstatically happy to be where I am at this point in my life. I suspect the same is true for you too!
By the way, it is T Rex's birthday today. And thanks for the concern, I do have a really bad cold that's turned to bronchitis. But it's viral and nothing can be done especially since I'm still breastfeeding. It will pass in time. Still not fun, though. I hope you guys stay healthy. At least my kids and hubby are healthy. I probably got it from a patient at the clinic or something like that.
Friday nights have their charm don't they! my friday nights wait for a good dinner and a new movie while some extra time on the computer. i wonder how they will turn out in another couple of years!
ReplyDeleteFriday nights have a new meaning for me as well. Now, I just look forward to relaxing after a long week, and I don't mind at all that I usually spend them in my pajamas!
ReplyDeleteKim, thank you so much for stopping by and commenting on my post. I'm your newest follower and I'll be back after kid's bedtime to browse through your blog.
ReplyDeleteYour friday nights sound just like mine...
I feel like my pre-baby life was so full that I never feel like I'm missing out on something when I'm home with my little family.
when we first moved to Brazil 8 - 8 years!!!- ago I missed so much, our dancing on Friday and Saturday nights, now in Friburgo we generally watch TV and have a Drink, maybe an extra chocolate.... oh dear. I have been coming back to Houston for those 8 years and at first I went out and danced as often as possible. Then it cut to two nights a week and now I have been here over a month and went out once. things change. and then change again, and again.
ReplyDeleteto me you are now in the best place. after a bath nothing smells or feels better then the good night hug and the kiss on the softness right behind their ear.
That glass of wine is earned :) As my kids get older, it seems like routine is harder to maintain. I feel like they're awake all the time, especially on a Friday night! I'm living in stretchy pants lately.
ReplyDeleteThis was excellent. Perfectly themed and timely blog post! Love the comment about what to wear? That's easy.
ReplyDeleteI really like what you wrote in your profile:
"Writing helps me see things more clearly, appreciate the gifts in my life and well it just plain ole helps me hang onto sanity when I feel myself slipping".
Excellent.
I was a homebody even before I became I mom, so not much has changed. I do love to wind down with a glass of Riesling!
ReplyDelete