One day, our darling daughter, little Ainsley, is going to ask how her dad, Jake, and I first crossed paths. You know, the classic true love tale filled with sparkles, champagne, and all that jazz. While we still have some time before that heartwarming moment, we definitely need to concoct a version of our story that’s, let’s say, a tad more palatable than the truth.
Once Ainsley learns the real deal, our credibility when it comes to giving her advice on boys, men, or relationships will be completely shot. I mean, we’ll be left with nothing—zero, zip, nada.
Here’s a little list of what we absolutely can’t advise her about:
- Don’t Rush Into Marriage: Seriously, don’t look at us for inspiration! Sure, we tied the knot at ages 21 and 24, but come on, times were different back then! There was no internet in most homes, digital cameras were a novelty, and Mel Gibson was a household name. Back in the 90s, getting married young was a common thing.
- Avoid Marrying Your Study-Abroad Fling: Especially if your adventure takes you to Europe—let’s say Italy—and you happen to meet this whirlwind romance during a night of carnival festivities in Venice (not that I’m talking from experience or anything). Those types of marriages rarely last. We just got lucky!
- Know Your Partner Well: Before saying “I do,” it’s wise to really know your significant other. I mean, if he pops the question after just two weeks, that’s a red flag! And definitely wait longer than four months before committing. Just hypothetical numbers here, of course.
- Meet the Family First: You don’t want your would-be mother-in-law’s first words to be, “Are you sure about this marriage?” If they are, just smile and nod.
- Choose Your Wedding Dress Wisely: Please, for the love of all that’s sacred, do not buy your wedding dress from a catalogue. That’s all I’ll say on that!
- Avoid Weekday Weddings: If you’re picking a significant date, make sure it lands on a weekend. No one wants to show up grumpy to work the next day because you chose a Tuesday to celebrate.
And that’s just the short list of what to steer clear of. The longer list? Well, we’ll save that for when she’s a lot older—and I mean much older!
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Summary
As parents, it’s important to prepare our children for relationships while also keeping our own love story under wraps. Ainsley will need to know the ins and outs of what to avoid when it comes to marriage, from rushing in too soon to picking the right wedding day. Our experiences may not be the best guide, but they can help shape her understanding of love and commitment.