Hola from Mexico City

I'm sitting in the airport in Mexico City after a very long, red-eye flight. We were on the back-row (you know, next to the kitchen where the seats don't recline and all the families with screaming babies are placed).

So, why am I in Mexico City? I'm with my wife of 18-years taking her to a beach destination so we can focus on each other.

• We've prioritized a week together, alone, without the kids, every year since our oldest was born.
• This is a non-negotiable for us.
• There are a thousand reasons not to take a trip like this. We have to ignore them all and just do it.
• There is never a good time to leave the kids and focus on each other.
• It requires planning months in advance.
• It requires prioritizing the money in our budget--over other stuff that we might really want.
• It requires others who believe in the priority as well who are willing to watch the kids and keep up with their insane schedules (thanks to my mom and dad for driving over from Iowa!).

I was joking with a friend the other day and said, "I love my kids 51 weeks a year, but one week a year I happily leave them behind."

Here is what I really mean: "I love my kids so much that I choose to leave them one week a year so I can focus on their mother and strengthen our marriage, which in turn will help produce a strong, secure home where each of our kids can thrive."

For those of you with kids...what are you doing to prioritize your marriage?

Comments

[Corey Mann]

have fun...and remember....huevos.

[anne jackson]

even for those of us without kids....it's hard.

[Kem Meyer]

1. I thought you said you'd never take a red-eye flight again. :)
2. http://www.amazon.com/Gotta-Go-Sam-Swope/dp/0374327572

Praying you have an AWESOME WEEK!

[Tina Harkey]

We do vacation as a family every other year and just Mike & I go every other year. This is family year and we are going to Mobile and Panama City Beach. Last year Mike and I enjoyed California for 9 days.

We have a unique situation in my daughter is with her dad 1/2 the time and me 1/2 the time so we have alone time without her. That is why we only go away every other year because I don't want to give up much of the time I do have with her.

I wish her dad and I had prioritized our relationship and things might have turned out differently.

[mandy]

We aren't able to go away for a week alone (maybe that's an excuse?). Our kid are all little and family is in Oregon.

To guarantee ourselves alone time, we put kids to bed EVERY night at 8. From 8-11 is OUR time.

[David Walters]

no offense, but i hope this is the last blog we see from you for a week. thanks for wed and thurs. look forward to hearing from you in a week!

[Marla Saunders]

It takes 3 days for us to wind down,and then we can begin to enjoy ourselves every time we go away. It is so worth it, though. My husband and I also try to get away for coffee every day. Life is short! Enjoy!

[David]

Tim,
Great comment about the wife.

David

[Jeff Bell]

Tim - thanks for modeling this priority for all us. Hope you and Faith have an amazing time.

Now quit blogging and enjoy your trip! :)

[Darrell Jordan]

We can't afford a week but we always find a weekend where we can get away without the kids. The first one was hard for my wife but she finds it easier every year.

This year our oldest asked her why he couldn't go and she said "because I love you". I thought that summed it up perfectly.

dj

[Billy Johnson]

Thanks for the refreshing, counter-cultural approach. We live in a world which tells us to worship our kids and forget our spouses....No wonder we have so many people divorcing after the kids leave home. You are absolutely right...We must make marriage a prority!!