It’s been a while. I’ve been reflecting; I just haven’t been sharing. It didn’t feel right. There were too many tragedies; too many people who weren’t joyous. When one tries to be compassionate – like I try to be, though Lord knows I oftentimes fail -, one’s own joy doesn’t matter so much as living through another’s sadness with them. It didn’t feel right to share my joy. But it feels okay now.
Because I’ve been thinking of writing this post for so long, I’ll write it as though it just happened, in Week 10 of Year 3.
My first thought was, “Is this allowed?”
He laughed and said, “Of course it is.”
“But I thought you were going to postpone the camping trip because I can’t extend the Labor Day Weekend like you’re planning to. I’d be looked down upon by the other teachers.”
He shook his head, lifted an eyebrow in a “Really?” look and I knew the answer.
Of course it was allowed. I had gone to Montana, twice, in the past two years, for three times longer than he’d be gone. He was allowed to go camping with his best friend for a weekend.
I’d be fine. I skipped my “single 20s” phase, after all, so this might be fun.
Why Every Wife Needs To Have a Weekend To Herself Every Now and Then
(or: Why you should let your husband go on this trip and how it’s really a gift.)
- Order all the pizza. For yourself.
Why, yes, I did want all those carbs to myself, thank you. 2. One extra ticket to a baseball game? I have no reason to feel guilty about leaving him behind? Awesome! Yes, I’ll go!
3. Go out with friends! Dance! 
4. Revel in the security of your love. Relish how it feels not to worry about whether he’s cheating on you, lying to you, or wishing he could have more bachelor weekends like this one. Love how much you can trust him, and how much you trust that he’ll come back to you even more into you than before.
I feel so sad for those who believe marriage is restrictive and destroys one’s independence. Though sometimes I do wonder if I made the ‘limited’ choice by marrying so soon, I am officially subscribed to the idea that, if married to the right person, nothing can be further from the truth. My husband helps me feel more free and allowed to take more risks because I know someone will be there to help me heal any wounds and set any broken ego bones at the end of a hard day. Even when he’s far away, his love literally wraps me up and lifts me high so that I am unstoppable.
I wish everyone could have this kind of love. It really is miraculous.
