Yesterday afternoon my mom had all three of the kids and Brandi and I had an entire afternoon just to ourselves. While we’ll often go out at night without them it’s rare to be alone during the middle of the day. At some point this prompted her to ask, “What in the world did we do before we had kids?” At first I thought, “Well, I have no idea what we did before kids,” but then it all came flooding back. We…
-Watched more movies that weren’t from Disney
-Walked around the mall without having to take a kid to the bathroom every five minutes
-Went out to eat and without having to spend half our time saying “Shhhhhh” and picking food up off the ground
So what did you do before you had kids?
Loved when a dinner out lasted longer than 45 minutes.
Spent the afternoon reading a good book on the couch.
Slept in past 7:30am.
Went to bed after midnight without the feeling of dread for the next morning (related to the one above).
I was never big on sleeping in but my wife really misses it!!
We were actually able to sleep through the night w/out 9,000 interruptions from growing pains, being scared and nightmares from the scream factory from Monsters inc… wouldn’t trade it for the world!
my wife and i used to rock climb together. we think that’ll be a fun thing to do again when the kids are older, but for now it’s not happening.
also, we used to both be able to have conversations with other couples… at the same time. now, though, one of us has to pull the daughter down from the rafters and curtain rods.
Haha!
Slept through the night…
Had an entire phone conversation without interruption
We were spur of the moment kind of people: “Hey, let’s go ______” Pack the car and go!
Slept in on a Saturday
Went to breakfast on a Saturday at Crackerbarrel and was able to tolerate the LONG wait.
Acutally read a book
I don’t have kids and I do not tolerate the 45 min wait at Cracker Barrel, Pancake Pantry or Cheesecake Factory. lol
I would like to read again.
Seriously, you must read…Tom finds the time to read…jealous.
We’d go to the movies. Watch one and sneak into 2 others.
Dude, I know it’s totally wrong but we did the same thing.
Before kids? I worked at a job that paid well but wasn’t fun. My job as a mom doesn’t pay well but the benefits are outstanding.
I was also an expert on child behavior. I could pinpoint what parents were doing to cause their children to behave so badly. Then I had 2 kids and realized what an idiot I was. Now when people without kids talk about children behaving badly, I just shake my head, smile and imagine what they’ll say when they have their own kids. Then I rejoice in the knowledge that God has a great sense of humor and irony.
Seriously, I was the best mom ever before I had kids.
Now I have two of the most precious little strong-willed toddlers around. I am humbled daily!
I actually walked in a parking lot and crossed the street without holding hands.
That’s good Karen.
At the moment…I’m still there.
We worked together as a husband and wife team. When we realized we were pregnant, I said, “Hey, shouldn’t be a problem, we’ll just stick a bottle in her mouth.” Yeah, right. But looking back, we’d not change a thing.
Faith and I used to be able to have uninterrupted conversation. I miss those.
A-to the-men!
If I could purchase a cone of silence, I would pay almost any amount of money for that so we could have a conversation.
Also, going anywhere was cheaper and faster… now we have to pay for extra meals and getting everyone into the car (well, now a minivan) takes an extra 10 minutes.
So much cheaper. So much faster.
Had more sex…
… Guess that’s how we got seven kids?
HAHAHAHAHA!!!! AWESOME!!!!
Clearly you guys have had enough sex for a lifetime.
I cannot remember “Before Kids.”
Before kids I…
…had a closet full of clothes I actually wore, instead of a closet full of clothes I would like to wear but just don’t have occasion to.
…had a bank account with money in it.
…could actually go swimsuit shopping without cringing.
…didn’t have to clean my own space up unless I wanted to rather than now having to because I have to set the example!
…road trips. Spontaneous, sleep-in-the-back-of-the-car, go where the wind takes us road trips.
…danced like a crazy person wherever I was whenever a really great song came on. Now I get the “YOU ARE SO EMBARRASSING” look and cry whenever so much as a toe starts to tap.
…had conversations about sex with friends that didn’t center around what exactly I’m supposed to tell Junior now that the questions are far more specific than “how were babies made?”
…helped lead youth group, led a small group, was on more than one worship team, spent time with friends all the time. Both single people and people without kids have far greater freedom in ministry than those of us who have kids (I am a single person with kids – divorced – and my ministry options OUTSIDE of my home are more limited these days because of having kids.)
…went to the zoo and just enjoyed the animals without having to answer a MILLION questions about why giraffes have such long necks, gorillas are so hairy (kinda looks like Grandpa, mom!), female lions do all the work while the males laze around.
…never heard “I love you, MOm” whispered as my child falls asleep.
…didn’t know the joy of feeling my little man (who is 9) slip his hand into mine as we’re driving down the highway together.
…didn’t cry tears of frustration or heartbreak or joy over the things my children are dealing with at times.
I could go on and on….and some things would be silly and some things would be serious but one thing remains constant. My life WITH kids is harder, more complicated, exhausting but the rewards are so freakin’ incredible.
Powerful!!
We did the deed that created the kids…
Jim and I were just talking about ” the good ol” days” last night, when we could walk to the store and go shopping, and how we could catch a show last minute. I would experiment with cooking meals like lasagna (with a whole garlic) didn’t know what a clove was. And the time I cooked a turkey for the first time, it was big enough to feed a large family. Those memories are what keeps the love alive…….just little things that add up to something deep and mysterious.It’s not about finding the right one, it’s being the right one ( read that yesterday ).
Before kids we went out a ton more. Out to the movies, out to dinner, museums, plays etc. We did things with other couples.
After kids we do more family activities. We play games, read books, see kids movies, order pizza. I think we do a lot with other families. Barbeques, S’mores, ice cream and zoos and everything kids like is what we do now.
I love life after kids. We still like to get together with other couples without kids once in a while.
Before kids we took less pictures, blew less bubbles, watched zero episodes of Yo Gabba Gabba, never changed a diaper, cussed more while watching Duke and Nebraska games and never enjoyed first hand the sound of a child laughing.
Stayed up past 10 and woke up after 7!
Did not eat at restaurants with crayons (at least, not nearly as often as we do now!)
Carried on complete, uninterrupted conversations that moved seamlessly from one topic to another!
Dreamt about being parents one day…
We talked about what it would be like when we had kids.
Haha! I’m just 1 year married without kids. We get to sleep as long as we want, watch whatever movies we want (within moral reason of course), stay out late without paying a babysitter, enjoy silence, and make out. A lot
BK (Before Kids) we …
(1) Ate a meal while it was still warm.
(2) Slept through the night
(3) And watched Disney movies – that hasn’t changed!
.. and a bonus entry from my wife: showered everyday.
Beautiful children, and they look so happy!
Before Kids I could:
Sorry about that, hit enter too early:
Before Kids:
1) I went to the bathroom without an audience, and
2) Took a shower without hearing “Mooooom!!!” through the crack under the door.
#! is hilarious and so true!
I wondered often what it would be like to be a MOM. Oh sweet Jesus, thank you. On the other side, we stayed up later than 10:30 and slept later than 7:00. I spent money on eating out, I would, on the spur of the moment, get in my car and go visit a friend or go shopping or anywhere for that matter. I would actually watch television or talk on the phone. Life is good.
I read a book!!
Before kids I had disposable income, very few unfinished projects, “girls nights out” and a house that didn’t have marks on every wall. I spent too much time at the gym and I took bike trips with my husband. But now I have a whole lot more love, purpose and joy in my life!
Been married 10 years now and have one 6 year old son who is beyond awesome, and waiting to be matched at adoption panel with a 2 year old boy, called Tommy.
1. Can’t remember much about time before kids but I do recall Tuesday night being date night!
2. I got to watch something other than SpongeBob Squarepants, although I have to admit its genius!
3. Listened to a whole CD and sat trying to work out the guitar chords for each tune. Miss that ‘Me time’ a lot!
4. Had space in the house that wasn’t dominated by baskets full of toys!