Tomorrow is my ten year anniversary with Mr. Housewife. Ten years. Ten years and a set of twins later we are still here. Am I surprised? I would be lying if I said no, marriage is tough and it's not always full of glitter and rainbows.
When two very stubborn and head strong people come together there is bound to be friction, heck, even if you put two calm submissive people together there will be friction. It's how you deal with it that tells the real story. And speaking of stories, I'm just not buying the fiction some people spout about never fighting with their partner or saying they always get along.... uh sure.
Let's just state right here and now, I am no marriage expert, not even close, but I've been to a few. What is the reoccurring statement they all say? Communication is key, and they are correct. When that breaks down failure is sure to follow if the proper steps to fix it isn't taken. Sometimes it really is easier to say "I'm outtie" and move on. Of course there are reasons that divorce is better, when there is abuse, or other act that is unacceptable, I don't want anyone to think I'm promoting staying in an unsafe situation.
Mr. Housewife and I were outside and he says to me "next week we have a big day". I'm thinking we have an appointment I forgot or something along those lines. Clearly my puzzled look gave away my confusion, so he reminded me of our anniversary. Yes, I'm the one in our relationship that forgets when we got married, I do know the month it's just the day that escapes me sometimes. I purposefully kept some matches from our wedding that have the date on them. Sure, it would be easier to jut put it on my calendar so it pops up (note to self to do that). He asked if I wanted to get away without the kids or what, and it's stuff like this that I try to remember when I'm furious, times when the guy really does try.
Every day I make sure I remind myself that I am a lucky woman because it's easy to get in a routine where you want more and more and forget what you already have. To get busy with kids and forget that you wouldn't have those kids if it wasn't for your partner. Making time gets tougher and tougher, but it's important.
I may forget the date on the calendar but I haven't forgotten the actual day. There have been some bumps, heck some major potholes, in the road over the past ten years but we are still all here driving along. With work and COMMUNICATION we will still be here driving along this curvy bumpy road ten years from now, hopefully we've learned a thing or two over the past ten that will help.
As for this year's anniversary, well, we've decided to spend it at The Salish Lodge, a whopping ten minutes from our house. And we are bringing the kids!! That's how we roll and I wouldn't have it any other way.
