come away with me

gazing across the table, over couscous, green beans, and pork chops, there he is. and he is actually smiling at you, a genuine look of everyday contentment. but it is so fleeting, ever so fleeting. because there are noses to be wiped, pork chops to be cut up, manners to be overseen.

gentle reminders of how enamoured you used to be. i put a picture of us from a friend's wedding in our bedroom. it is from six or seven years ago and we are kissing, not gross kissing but a sweet lean into each other, "hey, i haven't seen you all night" kind of kiss. that was only our second all night away since isabel was born.

we have had quite a few "all nighters" since kids. but there is so much pressure attached to those nights. we spend the whole time squeezing weeks or months of much deprived intimacy and peace into a eighteen to twenty four hour period. somehow, i always end up with indigestion from overindulgences. too much rich food that we wouldn't feed the kids, too much wine and liquor...not enough sleep.

with the summer coming, the pressure lessens somewhat. we send the kids outside so we can have a real conversation, or we sit outside with them while they run around and enjoy the yard. there is more time to enjoy the members of our little family. no need to go to bed early because there is no school in the morning, you sap all the daylight you can from each day.

every spring promises a renewal in the joy that you once held in being a family and being with one another. when i see that first crocus, everything seems to warm up.