Celebrating 15 years of marriage

My son and his wife have been married 15 years this week. That is amazing. How does 15 years zoom by so fast?

Just the other day, he was my little boy. Comic books, still in their plastic sleeves, covering most of the walls in his room. Clothes – clean and dirty alike – covering most of his floor space. 

Then before I could blink, he finishes school and sets off to join the Army. Next thing I know, he’s married.

Thank goodness he chose well. They both did. They paid attention to what mattered to them and made sure they had a good match before heading down the aisle. 

A dog and two children are added to the mix. And we’re 15 years down the road.

15 years and going strong

They’re doing fine – better than fine. They’re doing super. Life is great.

They’re still in love – and act like it. They still enjoy each other’s company and get along well together. They still have fun. 

They share all the housework, child-care responsibilities and financial obligations. They honor each other’s privacy and look out for each other’s needs. They are happy, healthy and getting wiser every day.

The children, who help speed that getting wiser process along, are happy and healthy, too. They’re smart, funny, sweet and delightful – most of the time.

I can’t believe I ever worried it would work out any other way. 

But I remember feeling a little lost after they married, wondering what my role would be going forward. 

Unsure of future role

This is an excerpt from a column I wrote in 2003 a few weeks after the wedding:

“We expect our children to grow up and be independent. We give them life, nurturing, and guidance so they can go out in the world and make their own contributions. We want them to have their own lives, and then it happens. It’s a strange feeling.

“And it’s a juggling game, for sure. You can’t hold on, and it’s painful to let go. Of course, Nate still needs and wants his mother in his life. But my role is uncertain now.”

It’s worked out really well – at least, from my perspective. Somewhere around their sixth wedding anniversary, they started thinking about having children and asked if I would be interested in being the official nanny when that happened.

Honored to be entrusted with such an important job, I said I would love to take that on. Nearly three years later, their first baby was born. I packed up and moved to Georgia for my new role as soon as Sarah had to return to work. The second child was born three years after that.

It’s been a fantastic – and challenging – experience. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

Despite the less than stellar track record of his mom and dad in the marriage department, Nate obviously has what it takes to make his own work. And I happily give a lot of credit to Sarah, who had a much better model for marriage, for making it easy.

Happy Anniversary guys – Good work!!

A more detailed description of the awesome wedding 15 years ago is included in “The Nathaniel Chronicles,” along with other funny and poignant stories of Nate growing up.