The Great Getaway
We did it! For the first time in over 10 years, we finally snuck away by ourselves for the night without the children (well, 4 nights actually). It was indulgent, it was expensive and it was so much fun.
How did you manage that in this recession?
Amid this awful economic climate, it may come as a shock that we took a few hundred quid and spent it frivolously on a mini break, so there are a few things I should mention. First, we haven’t been abroad as a family for several years, so we were able to stash some cash away. Neither, as mentioned above, had we EVER gone away by ourselves for the night or weekend since we started a family, so we really needed to take a break. Also, our decision not to re-do the kitchen and the fact that I’m now working part-time helped in the finances department. As one never really knows how secure either of our jobs can be, we decided to take a risk and do something wonderful for our marriage – for us - while we still had opportunity to do so. Whether the issue is money or time, this kind of thing is an investment in your relationship. It’s essential.
So, who arranged it all?
Sorry to disappoint you romantics, no my husband did not plan it all as a surprise for our upcoming 15th wedding anniversary. There are so many factors to consider, it was a job for two! We had discussed this for a while and finally decided the time was right. I scoured the web and found a gem of a place in beautiful lakeside surroundings just outside Bury St Edmunds. The fact that it was open to adults only clinched it for me. My sister and in-laws agreed to share responsibility for our three children.
Worries and stuff
Believe it or not, I didn’t anticipate this trip like an excited kid. Quite the opposite, I got the jitters and nearly cancelled it. I thought my youngest (aged 4) wouldn’t manage being away from us for so long. I was wrong – he was fine and missed us the least! I also thought it would be so tiring organising and packing everything that maybe we wouldn’t be worth spending some restful time away… again, that was utter nonsense, and it was unbelievable to have uninterrupted time without our children.
So, was it worth it?
Absolutely, yes!
I’ll paint you a picture in a few words:
Complimentary champagne and chocolates, absolute peace and quiet (no phone calls, no noisy toys, no fights), wonderful lakeside views, daily lie-ins (sheer delight), long leisurely breakfasts or lunches, romantic meals out in the evening, uninterrupted conversations and lots of time for nookie whenever we felt like it. Absolute R&R. Highly recommended.
The joy at being reunited with our children afterwards is also worth noting. Time apart definitely helped recharge our parent power batteries!
But we can’t afford to go away like that...
You actually can’t afford NOT to cultivate your marriage every so often. Even if you cannot possibly whisk yourselves away for a couple of days or so, try something similar for less. If grandparents are nearby, ask them if they could look after the little ones for a night or two, while you chill out together at home (no housework or projects allowed). Alternatively, why not both take a day off work during the week, and while the kids are at school or with a friend or childminder, enjoy a lazy, romantic day together.
Now that we’re back to reality and the fast lane of work and family life, we are so thankful that we forged out time and energy to plan an amazing oasis of relaxation. My only regret is that we didn’t do this earlier!
For more thoughts on stealing time together as a couple, take a look at Just the two of us
Written by Annie Carter. Posted on 6th July.
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