Parents Are Still People With Real Wants and Needs

Filed in archive Parenting on May 8, 2008

© Matt Finley


As parents, our lives revolve around our kids. We (hopefully) made the choice to procreate, and now we are committed for life. That's just the way it is.

There's a high level of commitment required as a parent, but that doesn't mean we're dead. We still have feelings, and we still need to find ways to relax, and sometimes a last minute date without the kids can work wonders for your relationship.

Last Sunday we did just that. I've been planning on attending the San Diego Red Bull Air Race World Series *cough*for work*cough* and was going to take the wife and kids with so they could see the race. From past experience we knew they would not be willing to hold still during a racing event, so we jumped at the chance when a friend offered to watch them.

I managed to secure a second set of media credentials for my wife once we got to the bay, and we headed for the media center's exclusive access to the event. There were only a few dozen other photographers in the area, which was surrounded by tens of thousands of fans.

This is the view from the media center where we were served lunch, with unlimited snacks and N/A drinks, especially Red Bull.



Not having to stand in the crowd, not having to wait in lines, not having to pay for food and drink, having literally the second best seats in the house (next to being strapped into the plane) all made the experience an exceptional one for my wife, and she kept letting me know how much fun she was having. I think it's amazing how excited she was that she actually took a picture of the floor of the porto-potty, which had carpet on it.

Do yourself, and your spouse, a favor; plan a get-a-way, and go enjoy yourselves!