Kev and I are finally doing something we’ve never done before- we’re taking a trip, just the two of us, to Hawaii. No kids. No bedtime routines or basketball schedules. Just us. We’ve never been away for more than a single night without Mai Boys, and part of me feels that tug of guilt. But I know deep in my heart this isn’t selfish. This isn’t just a vacation. This is an investment in Us– our marriage, our partnership, our foundation.
Life has a way of spinning fast. Between work, kids, practices, bills, chores, and the endless list of “to-dos,” we can easily put ourselves on the back burner. And while we love our family fiercely, it’s easy to forget that before the mayhem, before three boys filled the house with laughter (and shouts), there was just us. Me and Kev. And that “us” matters. It always has.
This trip gives us the chance to slow down, reconnect, and remember why we chose each other in the first place. It’s not about fancy dinners or sunsets on the beach, though I know we’ll enjoy those too. It’s about the conversations without interruption, the laughter that doesn’t get cut off by “Mom, Dad!” echoing through the house, and the quiet moments where we can look at each other and feel that same steady love we’ve always had.
Though he will never admit it, Kev deserves this time. More than anyone I know, he gives of himself without ever asking for anything back. He’s the one who carries the weight so I can breathe, the one who steadies me when I feel like I’m spinning in circles (literally and figuratively – that damn vertigo!). He’s gracious, patient, and kind in ways that often go unseen by the world but never unnoticed by me. He shows up for our boys, coaching, teaching, guiding, even when he’s exhausted. And he shows up for me in a hundred little ways- whether it’s making sure I feel safe, reminding me I’m loved, or simply standing next to me in the storm.
Out of the two of us, he is the most patient, the most steady. And I love him for it. He doesn’t just lead our family, he anchors it. He loves us without conditions, and he works harder than anyone I know to give us the kind of life he thinks we deserve. If anyone has earned a few days of peace in paradise, it’s him.
So yes, it feels strange not to bring the boys. Yes, I’ll miss them terribly. But I also know that when we come back, we’ll return stronger, closer, and more connected. Because the truth is, when we nurture “us,” we’re nurturing our entire family. Our marriage is the heartbeat of this mayhem, and time like this is what keeps it strong.
Hawaii is just the backdrop. The real gift is getting to look across the table (or the shoreline) and see Mai Husband. Mai Partner. Mai Safe Place. The Love of Mai Life.
Mai Household Mayhem 