I have always known that someday I would have a family and that family would include kids. When I picture myself at sixty-something that picture includes Dan and I helping our kids plan their weddings, having large family holidays, and doing lots of traveling (of course). That said, I haven’t exactly felt a sense of urgency to start that family. While I am sure that my internal clock will get triggered soon enough, right now I am finding myself wanting to make the most of this time where it is just the two of us. We aren’t exactly newlyweds but since when does enjoying just being husband and wife have to be left to the newlyweds and empty-nesters!? Thus the Before Baby List was born.
The Before Baby List has really always been there but since the wedding it has evolved a bit and become much more specific. Early on it was pretty simplistic with things like find life partner, feel financially stable, be successful in career, etc. Now it is filled more specific with things like experience France (check!), run a marathon (check!), go on a spontaneous weekend trip (check!), experience Croatia, figure out if photography is just a hobby, have our place truly feel like home (a challenge when we move annually!), etc. Along with the more seemingly elusive list item of loving my job.
Most of the things on my Before Baby could realistically be done once we have added kids to the equation so it is less about specific to do items. It simply comes down to having this time together as husband and wife before we throw in the addition of being mom and dad. And making sure that I give myself a little time to achieve those things that are just for me before I am ready to become a mom. I fully believe that life is a work in progress and that doesn’t change once you become a mom. I am sure that I will have all kinds of lists with different angles soon enough; for now it is kind of fun to have them all about me or us. And right now I am trying to figure out a way to fit in a vacation to Croatia and to see if I can beat four hours in a marathon before baby makes three.
So who else has or had a Before Baby List? What is your favorite bucket list item that you are working towards right now?
{Image 1 from author’s personal collection, Image 2 from petitcollage}
Twitter: @accordingtomio
I love this. I too have a before baby list although I am not married, nor do I have a boyfriend. I am single, never dated. My before baby/before marriage list is finish college. I’m 28 and nearly done. Not only finish college, but become established in my chosen field. Then can come marriage and kids.
.-= Michelle’s most recent blog post: Reverb10 Day 7 & 8- Community & Beautifully different =-.
My before baby list is similar to yours! We just got married in October and now I’m thinking about all these things. I would like to run a 1/2 marathon which I’m currently training for, and take a huge roadtrip. We’re planning an East Coast roadtrip this May.
My husband and I have been married for a little over two years. My before baby list includes finishing all the renovations I want done in our home, traveling over seas, hopefully starting a business that involves design, and of course being a little more financially stable but I feel like that is one of those things that most people really never feel like they are. I’d also like to run a second marathon and this time break 4 hours. It will be interesting to see what of this list actually is completed before baby and also how the list may change prior to then. Great topic!
.-= beth’s most recent blog post: Hello Christmas Table =-.
Twitter: @fashionablyfit
This is a great post! We are engaged and getting married in July, and people are already asking us when we’ll have children. I hate to give the cliched, “Well, we want to travel …. ” answer, but it’s like, well … there ARE things we want to do that don’t include children and travel is one of them. A half marathon is one of my goals (I recently told a coworker I was going to run until my knees are shot and then have a baby, ha), and I want to get back into riding (was on my college equestrian team).
It’s just a good idea to think about this stuff because it’s one of those things you can’t really go back on. And even though it sounds obvious, I look around and think there’re a lot of folks who never considered that.
.-= Ashley’s most recent blog post: The simpler- the better =-.
Twitter: @honeysucklelife
Most of our goals are financial right now: adequate insurance, enough in savings to cover the birth (we have high deductibles right now), enough in savings to cover loss of income and emergencies, a house. And there are a few other places we want to visit before we take a break to have children.
.-= Rebekah’s most recent blog post: Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-12-18 =-.
I am clearly late to the game, but love this post, and felt the need to comment!
On our Before Baby List we have: Hubby to finish grad school (next May wahoo!), Get scuba certified, get our finances in check, develop a better exercise routine (get down to a healthier weight), travel to either Hawaii or Thailand.
Great topic!