My husband and I just returned from a two night/three day road trip down England’s south coast without our baby son, Kai. We left him with his grandparents and headed off together. It has been my experience that a couple should, if possible, get time away from their kids together, even if its just a few hours. Routines, especially breastfeeding, can make this hard, but I believe it’s important to try.
Why? Just hopping in the car like it was no big deal and driving off, literally into the sunset, felt amazing. We felt light and young again! It totally refreshed me – like I hit a “reset” button deep within me.
Hanging out with my gorgeous husband for three days straight was a priceless gift. We laughed so much. We were like teenagers again. We giggled. We kissed. Re-connecting with him felt so good, and has given me an unexpected boost in energy. I wasn’t expecting it to feel as nice as it did. Love is why we are together in the first place. Raising a young child, you go through a lot, and so it was good to reconnect and make time for love and laughter.
As much as we enjoyed couple time, our trip cemented in our heads how precious, beautiful, and special our little bundle of giggles is to us. We are a family now, and we missed him. Within the first few hours of our trip we stopped for a meal at a small bistro on the water as the sun set. Serendipitously, we were seated next to another young couple and their little baby. We couldn’t help starting up a conversation with them and telling them about Kai. The trend continued: that night we realized we had mentioned Kai to everyone we met that day. As much as we enjoyed the independence and freedom the trip gave us, it also brought a realization that baby Kai is so much a part of us now. We will never be individuals again; and it’s something we couldn’t be happier about.
Theresa Pauline is a yoga teacher, social entrepreneur, momma, wife, and beijingkids contributor. You can find out more about her at www.taozitreeyoga.com
Photos: Courtesy of Theresa Pauline
