In the 7 months since Baby Lighty’s arrival, Mr Lighty and I have been out as a couple a total of… zero times. So as I sat and started to write this post on the train into London yesterday, without a Baby Lighty attached to me in the sling and with a Mr Lighty by my side, it was with a mixture of feelings: a cloudy concoction of vague excitement and nostalgia for when it was just Mr & Mrs Lighty, a sense of freedom at not having to lug my massive change bag, buggy, and a change of clothes (I assumed that no one was going to be sick on me!) and, of course, a mother’s anxiety.
For you see, this was the very first time that Baby Lighty had been looked after by anyone other than Mr or Mrs Lighty. The very first time! He was in very capable hands with Mummy Hatchy, I knew that, but I also knew that she, too, was feeling the nerves, having told me that her afternoon’s activities, when not playing with Baby Lighty, were to consist of shredding paperwork and sorting out the dining room side board – basically activities whereby she could keep a close eye on Baby Lighty.
As we stepped out of the station in London Mr Lighty said “Oh no, we’ve left Baby Lighty on the train!”. As much as he was joking, my stomach lurched, because it really did feel like we’d forgotten something. Similarly, no sooner had our food arrived in Byron Burger than had it been eaten, having got into the habit of gulping down our meals in order to attend to Baby Lighty. We were on a date, where was the leisurely dinner full of grown up chat? Did we even have anything to talk about any more other than Baby Lighty?!
First parent date selfie!
Actually able to enjoy a dinner (and a milkshake!) without being interupted or having to share it with a little tiny person!
Yummy Byron Burgers!
As it turned out, yes we did have plenty to talk about, and it was nice to be able to discuss things properly without being interrupted by a little tiny person every few minutes. But I won’t lie, there was still lots of talk of Baby Lighty and even a little look back at photographs of him. Still, it felt a little bit like it used to be, when it was just Mr and Mrs Lighty, as we strolled through the streets of Shoreditch after our meal, en route to a friend’s leaving do, stopping to look at and photograph the likes of the love locks and the shabby-chic architecture…Mrs Lighty very rarely gets to stop and just look nowadays, and the only photos I seem to take are of Baby Lighty (a beautiful subject, but still!).
Enjoying a little bit of Shoreditch scenery and photography like Mr and Mrs Lighty used to enjoy on their travels!
And we really needn’t have worried, Baby Lighty really was in safe hands with Mummy Hatchy, as her Whatsapp pictures confirmed. However, it was always going to be the case: first dates are the hardest.
The photo and Whatsapp message received from Mummy Lighty.
Proud to be linking up with:
Ah, I am glad you managed to enjoy your first date. My first date was 6 weeks after I gave birth. My ex’s insistence that we “get our lives back”. It was far too soon for me. I wanted to be at home with my baby. I love the photo by the way. #fartglitter
Thank you! I can imagine how you felt – even yesterday after 7 months I kept feeling like I was missing out on Baby Lighty! Thanks for reading my post 🙂 #FartGlitter
Glad you had a chance to get out! Ours was about two months in and we went to the local half school pantomime… We ended up with seats right at the front and were the only people there unaccompanied by kids. It was such a good laugh though, I’m glad we went. 🙂 #marvmondays
It does sound fun! I would bet that you’ve been since with your little ones? Thanks for reading my post 🙂 #MarvMondays
Haha- I’ve yet to go out without our tot and not have a wee shuffle through some pictures and videos. There is no hope for us mums 🙂
Thanks for linking up to #fartglitter x
Oooh no you’ve got to make time for you and The Mummy! I guess it’s harder though if you’re living abroad, without any baby sitters on tap?? Thanks for hosting #fartglitter 🙂
What a fantastic time. I know the feeling when you go somewhere without your kids and it’s so strange! ANegla from Daysinbed x
Thanks Angela, it really did feel like we’d forgotten something!! Thanks for taking the time to read my post 🙂 xxx
Glad you managed to find some together time for you both. It’s really important but so hard if you don’t have a babysitter locally. Your date sounds amazing and I love the photo. Hope you get to have another date soon
Congratulations on your first date lovely. There’s something odd but exciting about it isn’t there? Pleased you had a lovely time and D enjoyed his date with his Grandma too xx
Thank you, and yes it was very odd but exciting! We even managed another one last night…to a Baby First Aid course!! Ha! Xxx
Haha living the dream 😉 xx
Oh yes, getting out once you have kids is very difficult. It has to be done ‘though. Well done for making the effort! #coolmumclub
Our friend’s leaving do gave us a good excuse to make the effort if I’m honest! Thanks for reading my blog 🙂 #coolmumclub
Awww this is a lovely post, I remember the panicky feeling that I had when I left Alfie for the 1st time and then when I left both kids for the 1st time I was petrified (for about 5 mins then euphoric!), I only wish we had more dates at the moment. Looks like you had an ace time! Thanks for linking up #bestandworst
Thank you for having me! We did have a lovely time, but it was also very nice to get home to our little chap. Looking forward to linking up to #bestandworst again soon 🙂
I can remember our first date like yesterday – we went to the Beefeater round the corner from my Mums at 5pm and were back by 6!! Rubbish…nowadays, babysitters for two are even harder to come by, so when we get the opportunity we relish it. Definitely due a date night soon… x MMT Thanks for sharing with #coolmumclub!
Thanks for having me on #coolmumclub! Yes I know what you mean, us mums (and dads!) definitely need to make the most of these little outings! Hoping you manage a nice date soon 🙂 xxx
Is nice to be able to go out and enjoy yourself, even though the conversation always revolve around the kids (at least in my case).
And I love Byron!
#coolmumclub
It was our first time to Byron, but we loved it too! Thank you for taking the time to read my blog 🙂 #coolmumclub
Ahh yes I remember our first date post baby was a little weird, and I think our photos came out too! We try to go out once among alone although I’m now pregnant again we’ve let it drop. You have inspired me to get a date in the diary xx #fartglitter
Ah congratulations and I hope you manage your date! It was weird but good. Hoping we can do it again soon! Thanks for reading my post 🙂 #fartglitter