Monday, January 7, 2013

Confessions of a Sugar Mama

It's official! This week ends my reign as a highfalutin sugar mama. Brian has gone back to work! He is in a Management Consulting Role with Accenture Indonesia! (and he never cased at ALL - yeah, Fuqua - what a jerk!) As I send my oldest boy off to the grown up world of long hours and minimum wage, I reflect back on what life must have been like for him…

For the better part of the last 6 months, I've been the breadwinner for Dom Helminski. Prior to our move to Indonesia, Brian took unpaid leave with Accenture in order to keep his job. Since he'd been off projects for some time due to our wedding and eventual move post-wedding, unpaid leave was the only option and thus, he's been living the house hubby life.

That turkey is filled with air....
Since we’ve been in Jakarta, Brian has cooked, cleaned, shopped for groceries, corresponded with family and friends (he did ALL of our wedding Thank You cards!), has ben responsible for our (minimal) social lives, planned our trips and family and friends visits, coordinated with the maid and brought me my scotch and my smoking jacket when I come home. He really is a wife from the 50s!

Real men use toaster ovens!
All jokes aside, I think about all that he's sacrificed for my job, my success in my career, my sense of accomplishment at work, and most importantly, his commitment to us and to being together. I often wonder how I got so lucky to have this man. He gave up a great-paying job (we had no idea if he’d be able to get work in Indonesia), he left friends, and family, and the almighty Amazon.com. He basically dove head-first into a completely unknown life without even blinking and has taken every day with the most incredible grace. He is a better person that I could ever be and the best man I have ever known.

and he's the best Uncle and Godfather on earth!
It’s one of the greatest things about growing old with a person - you get to experience these wonderful sides of your partner that you never knew existed, perhaps sides you never knew could exist in a person because never in your life did you believe someone could love you so much.

 So I'd simply like to say, Thank You, to my wonderful husband, the most gracious, committed, devoted, and loving man on the planet. I'm so glad to be on this journey and exciting time in our lives together. There's no one else I'd rather share this adventure with… I married the best man in the world and all I want to do is grow old with you.

 Hit it Sandler!