After a weekend with sick kids, I’m nostalgic for my pre-baby life

We had a helluva weekend—and not in a good way. One of my germy kids brought home a tummy bug from school or daycare that went through the whole house. But it wasn’t one of those down-for-12-hours-and-you-rally kind of thing; it was an ongoing, I-feel-fine-enough-to-terrorize-my-sister-and-drive-my-parents-crazy kind of thing. And, because my husband, Blaine, and I had it, too, we were parenting on low and trying not to cry (well, that was me anyway; Blaine was trying not to swear). We also changed about a gazillion dirty diapers, and my hands are actually chapped from washing them so much.

At the end of the day on Sunday, after the kids were finally in bed and we were finally through most of the mountain of laundry on our basement floor, I looked at Blaine and said, “Remember how much easier it was when it was just the two of us?” This wasn’t an expression of regret in any way, shape or form—our clever, funny, beautiful children are everything to us—but just a moment to wax nostalgic about our years as a couple, when a weekend feeling under the weather would have seen us snuggled up in bed, binge-watching The West Wing (on DVD) and eating whenever and whatever we wanted. When I started to run down the differences between our life together in 2010 and the life we live today, it feels like we live on another planet (well, to be fair, we kind of do; I call it Planet Sophiette).

In 2010, we lived in a two-storey apartment in midtown Toronto and drove a Mazda 3 (when we didn’t take the subway). In 2015, we live in the burbs and drive a Dodge Caravan that is always disgusting (taking the subway with our kids is a novelty and, sadly, I miss the time I used to get to myself on the TTC).

In 2010, we could buy new clothes because we liked them (not because things wore out), we went to the movies a ton and we loved going out for dinner. In 2015, we pay for daycare (OK, it’s not that bad, but it feels like it).

In 2010, my eyebrows never grew in and Blaine’s hair never really got too long. In 2015, looking unkempt is the norm rather than the exception.

In 2010, we went to Paris on our honeymoon. In 2015, we go to Guelph for the weekend.

In 2010, I never went to work with snot on my shoulder or having made up only one eye. In 2015, I do my makeup in the car and often forget to finish. I put on a blazer this morning and had to change because Snotmonster Juliette left me a present.

In 2010, we both played after-work sports and thought nothing of having a drink with friends or colleagues. In 2015, it takes military-precision planning to go out on a weeknight. And chasing babies who are learning to walk counts as a sport, right?

In 2010, I dreamed about the kids we’d have one day. I investigated fertility clinics, knowing my polycystic ovary syndrome would be an issue. In 2015, two gorgeous little girls sleep down the hall.

In 2010, I had moments of solitude. In 2015, when I have too many moments of solitude, I ache for our girls—and all the mess that comes with them.

Walmart Live Better editor-in-chief Katie Dupuis likes structure and organization—a lot. Now imagine this Type A editor with a baby. Funny, right? We’re sure you’ll love Katie’s musings on life with Sophie, Juliette and husband Blaine. Read all of Katie’s Type A Baby posts and follow her on Twitter @katie_dupuis.