Happy anniversary to us! After 15 years of marriage and 19 years of knowing each other, Michael and I know our strengths and weaknesses. I know Michael will throw up if he sees vomit, so I clean up the vomit. Michael knows I get stressed out on big travel days (like crossing borders), so he takes the lead in those situations. I read to the kids, and Michael plays Legos and Nerf with them. Michael takes the boys to play golf and go to Dave and Buster’s while I cook or draw with them.
Early in our marriage, we learned that we cannot fundamentally change who we are. We must accept each other’s idiosyncrasies and work together as a team. We still annoy each other (especially now that we spend all our time together), but we also appreciate each other.
If we did not get along, we would not be able to live the lifestyle we are leading. We worked full-time jobs and only saw each other on nights and weekends before we started traveling. We were busy driving Lucas and Henry to activities, cleaning the house, or running errands. Now, we hardly spend time apart. It is working out so far.
It is important for each of us to have our own time and for us to spend time together without the kids. It takes a conscious effort to make that happen. The kids are old enough now that Michael and I can go out on date nights and leave the kids behind. Sometimes, one of us will stay back and not do an activity. It is an opportunity to recharge our batteries and focus on ourselves.
The biggest secret to our success is that despite our differences, we share a common vision of how we want to live our lives. We are active and present parents. Family is important to us. We both love adventure and traveling. We are on the same page for the “big ticket” items.
Here’s to many more years of living, laughing, and loving!
