Today marks the ninth anniversary of my marriage, which is no small feat in a place like Los Angeles, where couples seem to swap partners as casually as trading baseball cards. Such a milestone deserves a grand celebration, but naturally, we’ve got nothing planned!
Here’s a fun little comparison of how we celebrate our wedding anniversary before kids versus after kids.
Before Kids:
Leading up to your anniversary, you excitedly discuss all the fabulous ways to commemorate your love.
After Kids:
You’ve completely lost track of time—what day is it again? Just yesterday, while scheduling a dentist appointment for your little one, one of you suddenly realizes that your anniversary is tomorrow. Surprise!
Before Kids:
You reminisce over your wedding album, laughing and crying together as you recall your beautiful day.
After Kids:
Your wedding album? It’s been missing since you converted your home office into a nursery for your second child (surprise!). It wouldn’t be shocking if you accidentally donated it to Goodwill, where a stranger now has it for 50 cents. If you did manage to find it, you’d get a mere 20 seconds of nostalgia before one of the kids spills applesauce on your favorite photo.
Before Kids:
You meticulously plan a romantic evening, complete with cocktails, fine wine, and a multi-course meal at the trendiest restaurant in town. Reservations are made weeks in advance!
After Kids:
With just 24 hours until your anniversary, it’s a mad dash to secure a babysitter. After several attempts, you find someone, but they’re only available until 9 p.m. You have no clue what the hottest spot is anymore, so you settle for any restaurant that serves food and has space for you both. Romantic ambiance? You’ll take what you can get!
Before Kids:
You make a point to look your best: a new dress, fresh nails, a blowout, and a bikini wax so you feel fabulous.
After Kids:
If you’re lucky, the kids nap at the same time, giving you a brief window to shower. Shaving your legs? A long shot. Your nails resemble something from a horror movie, and unless you remembered to order something cute in your latest Stitch Fix, you’ll be wearing whatever semi-clean outfit fits your postpartum figure. Bikini wax? Forget it. If he’s still interested after witnessing childbirth, he can handle the jungle down there!
Before Kids:
You savor a leisurely four-hour meal with wine pairings, then head home for some passionate romance. You might even get a little wild and discuss the idea of having kids.
After Kids:
You rush through a mediocre dinner to make sure you’re back in time for the babysitter’s next gig. After a couple of drinks, you feel tipsy enough to wonder how you’ll make it home. You stumble back, frantically calculating how much you owe the babysitter (hint: it’s always too much), and try to sneak into your bedroom without waking the kids. A quick roll in the hay before you both collapse from exhaustion? Yes, please!
This article was initially published on August 26, 2015. If you’re curious about more parenting adventures, check out our related post here.
Summarizing the evolution of anniversary celebrations, it’s clear that life with kids changes everything—from the planning to the execution, and even the intimate moments you once took for granted. For more insights on pregnancy and family planning, I recommend this excellent resource from Healthline. And if you’re considering your own path to parenthood, check out Cryobaby’s at-home insemination kit for a unique option.