We spend our mornings together now. We wake up together, have breakfast together, watch cartoons together, and do everything normal families do TOGETHER. In the morning. We’ve spent the majority of our 13 years together on completely opposite schedules. That, along with some other difficult situations, have made the last couple years of our marriage almost too difficult to bear. We’ve walked through hell and back multiple times during our time together, and nothing could prepare me for the struggles we faced together and individually over the last couple of years. Marriage is hard work. It’s made me the happiest I’ve ever been and it’s brought me to my knees a few times too. Our time apart has led me to feeling lonely in a crowded room. Everything the kids and I did had to be done without Chad. I felt like a single mom. We had been spending about 20 hours a day without him, and by the time he was up, it was time to make dinner and put the kids to bed.
Recently, our schedule changed. At first I was worried about it. I wasn’t sure how we would make it work, but it seems to be going much better than expected. We’ll celebrate our 8th anniversary next month and this is the first time that we’ve ever been able to to go to bed at the same time. We get to sit up after the kids go to bed and watch a movie like normal married people, have actual adult conversations, and say “goodnight” in person. I never thought I’d see the day where that fact would be a reality for us; where a typical Monday morning would be one of my favorite things.
Mornings have been my favorite time of the day recently. I’ve been documenting them on my cell phone and camera for the last few weeks. Watching the sun come up each morning is somewhat of a metaphor for this new chapter our family has started.
This is Artifact Motherhood; a collaboration of artists from around the world who have come together to share our stories of the joys and struggles of our journey. Through our writings and visual records, we want to create memories that are more than photographs with dates written on the back. These are the artifacts we are leaving behind for our children and for generations to come. Please check out, Paige, the next artist in our blog circle, and continue through all the artists until you get back to me
I’m so glad for you that you and Chad are able to spend these normal morning routines together now as a family. You document so beautifully these mornings and I can see joy and light bounding out from your faces <3
Thank you, Diana. It’s been a long time coming. It’s been a nice change of pace
I can totally see that metaphor. your eyes and camera are recording these beautiful details and light shining on this chapter beginning. You look so happy ! Working at marriage and relationship can be hard. Here is to 8 years and many more to come.
Thank you, Caro!
This made my heart so happy to read. What a wonderful change for you and your sweet family. Your pictures evoke the feelings of joy, warmth, and peaceful contentment. I can tell you both are savoring this new chapter. Soak in the sunny goodness, you both deserve this.