– Buying new towels. Seriously, after a few years of marital sharing, treat yourself to some towels. No one is giving you a mid-life bridal shower. (Ditto on new pans for the kitchen, new sheets for the bed, and new unmentionables for the lingerie drawer.)
– Nursing a head cold. The t.v. advertisements always say, “rest in bed, drink plenty of fluids, and take Insert-Name-Brand-Cold-Remedy-Here.” But nobody does that. We all press on like good soldiers and hack and sneeze our way through another work day, spreading germs across cubicles and possibly delaying our own recovery by three or four days. A day on the sofa with hot tea and toast is worth the few hours of vacation you’ll have to subtract next summer. And your coworkers will thank you.
A few other things I know from experience you will never, ever regret:
– Reading to children.
– Writing your mother.
– Going to bed early.
– Eating cake on your birthday. (okay, you might regret that one. But it will be worth the trouble.)
– Celebrating your friends. (Please consider yourself celebrated. Add cake if you so desire)
Two friends we love to celebrate: Don & Cheri, with whom we happen to share four grandchildren.
Kathy, how sweet of you! We are considering ourselves celebrated! And we celebrate you and Wendell as well! You are a treasure!
I love this post. I love gaining wisdom from those who have already been where I am. You should advise your readers on a daily basis! I had my 10th anniversary this year and I had help with laundry after Megan was born. Mom told me, “There comes a time in your marraige when you have to decide that you are staying in it. If you decide you are keeping your husband, you need to replace these old ratty towels!” So I did. As all good daughters should heed motherly advice!
Thanks, Cheri.
And, Valerie! Your mother and I think with one brain, don’t we? She put it so well.
I LOVE this!
Oh, I love this too. So beautiful. I’m going to buy new towels SOON, I am. I did buy a new pot the other day. And this is just such lovely permission! I especially like the nursing a cold one. I think a lot about the American work mentality. It’s not that I don’t admire actual work ethic. But I think we spin in circles a lot, making the hours long but the productivity not necessarily worthy of them. Anyway, I love thinking about things I will never regret and then trying to fit more of them in.
My mental list has been growing all morning, Seren 🙂
Wait, why don’t we all just give each other mid-life bridal showers!
Although, combined with regular bridal showers, I guess I don’t really have the money. I’d just like to be on the receiving end.