the bittersweetness of it

We were waiting to write this for when things were perfect. We envisioned ourselves composing this post as veterans of a brutal but ultimately won war, pouring out words of wisdom and hope to anyone who might need to hear it.

And so of course we kept holding it off.

Because marriage after parenthood has been hard, and often unrewarding, and everything and anything but perfect. We had it (mostly) figured out before the baby. We were in a groove, just the two of us. And we're so glad Clay's a part of our family and can't imagine it now without the three of us, but with that huge gain there also came a little loss. A loss of who we were beforehand. It's been learning to let go of that (and instead focus on building up who we are together now) that has proven perhaps the hardest part of this all. We fight out of frustration. We say things we don't mean, and half the time it's simply because we're exhausted. But we're moving forward together, hand in hand - even if sometimes those said hands are clenched fists or sweaty palms. And so we are bound to succeed. 

-Scott & Eleanor 

Note From Scott: On the bright side, my conflict resolution skills are really getting great. 

Note From Eleanor: No, they're not.

Note From Eleanor: Not to start another fight or anything...