We went to see an outdoor play last night... they were performing The Three Musketeers at the nearby country park, so after a full week of partner-persuasion and planning, we headed out, picnic under arm, baby in tow.
She was a star - for most of it.
Which is saying a lot. She stared at the swordfighting, shouted when the loud noises happened very cutely, and only had to be taken away when she started talking to herself, not even a cry!
But partner didn't do so well. He's just not a theatre person, and by the interval I could tell that he was done. So when we had to leave about 15 minutes before the end - screaming child, silent parent, one mama who wants to see the end - a very rosy happy evening had disintegrated quite substantially.
Sigh.
This whole 'Doing Things as a Unit' is still really unfamiliar territory for me. We came back to the house and I found myself feeling frustrated, filled with thoughts about how 'If I was on my own, I could have seen the end,' and even as they exploded in my brain, I knew that my life is so much richer and fuller and more whole now that I am a part of this magical circle of people interwoven into each other's lives. But like Whitman said, 'Do I contradict myself? Very well then, I contradict myself. I am large. I contain multitudes.'
Part of being a feminist for me is being honest about the frustrations.
So, in the spirit of Feminism and Honest Mamahood,
I would have loved to have seen the whole play last night. And, I would be happier if my partner loved theatre with the same heart-joy that I do. But, I am so joyful and grateful to be here, in my own shoes, toting along two pounds of baby kit just to go for a picnic in the park, instead of strolling along by myself to such an event.
Thank you universe, for the lessons I'm getting this year.
It's a slow learning curve, but I'll get there.
