Saturday Mornings

We'd like to welcome Julia Golightly back to Adding Zest today! A few weeks ago, Julia sent in A Slow Fade where she encouraged us to love our husbands in a way they understand. Today she's back with good idea for us.

Do you remember Saturday mornings pre-kids?

Slowly you open your eyes, the sun is already up and a masculine arm is wrapped around you. The length of his body is pressed against the back of yours warming you all night long. The corners of your mouth turn up into a peaceful smile and you exhale in containment. You roll over to look at your husbands handsome face. Before long you can't help yourself. Reaching up you stroke his scruffy cheek. Sleeping he looks handsome in a different sort of way, no worries, just at peace. He begins to stir. His eyes meet yours, “How long have you been watching me sleep?”

That begins your lazy Saturday morning. Maybe you talked all morning about “someday”. Maybe you made love. No matter what you did it was just the two of you. No one else to care for. No one else to worry about, just you and he.

Now it's more like this.....
You open your eyes. It's so early the sun is still sleeping and there is a set of beady eyes watching you. “What's for breakfast, Mommy?” No time for cuddling, no talk of tomorrow, right into the hustle and bustle of giggles, snotty noses, and soggy diapers.

So how do we get our old Saturdays back? Truthfully, I don't think you do until it's just the two of you again. But you can make something new. Something similar. Obviously what I am going to suggest won't work for couples with very wee ones.

On Friday night pick what's for breakfast in the morning and let the kids know. I don't mean bacon and eggs. Get out some pop tarts, granola bars, cereal, bananas, or slice some fruit and place it in the fridge. Go ahead and fill all sippy cups and the older kids' cups and put them on a low shelf in the fridge so that it is accessible to the kids without your help.

I know some of you moms are squirming right now. I know because before my marriage went through it's trails this idea would seem ghastly to me. But think of it this way, seven mornings a week you cater to their every need. It will be okay if one of those mornings you do something different. So let them have a cold breakfast they can get themselves.

Then I want you to pick a movie and place it in the DVD player, showing your older one how to start it. Or, if you have cable set it to the right channel so all they have to do is turn the TV on.

The last thing I want you to do is place a pack of gum at your bed side along with some mascara, lip gloss and a brush.

Now, when Saturday morning comes....
If they rise early send them back to bed until the sun comes up. At that point they may get up and you can change diapers and remind everyone what's for breakfast. Let them know when everyone is finished the movie may begin. Let it be known that any fighters will miss the movie and play in their room.

Return to your room, shut the door and lock it. Brush your hair, slap on a thin coat of mascara, and a little lip gloss. Pop in a piece of gum and share some with your handsome husband. Now do what you please. It may not be the Saturday of old and it may only last a couple of hours but when our kids are little you should strive to take what time you can get.

We make time for our kids every morning. Set aside a morning just for him. Don't let him forget he is still the man of your dreams, the one you chose before all others.


Submitted by Julia Golightly.