This weekend is our 10-year wedding anniversary. It is also our daughter’s sixth birthday and of course, it is also Father’s Day.
Ten years is a big milestone so we are celebrating in style. We have a babysitter booked, dinner at a fancy restaurant locked in, and I am looking forward to some much-needed adult time and the chance to sit and talk for longer than five minutes without a child, work or pet interrupting us.
My daughter has been planning her party since the day she turned five, so you can imagine the excitement levels this week as we prepare the party bags and plan the cake.
We have purchased Father’s Day gifts and kept them hidden for several weeks. I am really impressed with the secret-keeping from the kids, to be honest.
So, a big weekend ahead and I am not exaggerating when I say this is the one weekend in the past several months for which we have plans.
It makes sense then, that we would all get sick. It is parenting law that if you make plans to spend time and money with or without the children involved, the universe will throw every curveball to try and kill your fun.
I won’t be deterred, though. The benefit of 15 years together, 10 years married and eight years as parents means we have become well-practised in dodging said curveballs – or at least not letting them ruin things.
The day my husband proposed, he had planned a romantic picnic, followed by dinner and an evening in a beautiful hotel. Unfortunately, because it is us, that day there was a random storm and torrential rain.
Fast forward to the day before our wedding. Again, torrential rain, damaging winds and the temporary closure of the wharf the boat for our reception was set to pick up guests from.
It all worked out in the end. He proposed inside, out of the storm and I said yes. The day of our wedding the sun miraculously came out and it was a stunning day. To be honest, I doubt any weather dramas could have ruined either day for me.
MORE CHRISTY KIDNER:
I have lost count of the number of date nights we have lost due to illness over the years. Finding time as a couple when you have young kids is incredibly hard, even if your kids have superhuman immune systems.
We are still here, though, still together. So instead of cursing the fact our anniversary dinner has been threatened by illness, I am instead feeling relaxed and optimistic. It wouldn’t feel right if everything went smoothly.
My daughter will be able to celebrate her birthday, even if it has meant keeping her home from school longer than I would usually allow to ensure she recovers completely.
Father’s Day will go ahead, and no doubt there will be plenty of cuddles and smiles as the kids get to spoil their beloved dad.
So, happy anniversary to my husband, happy birthday to my gorgeous girl and happy Father’s Day to all of the dads out there!
- Christy Kidner is a trained newborn care specialist and mother of two. Visit Christy’s blog at www.motheringme.com.au