Celebrate Surviving Another Year of Parenthood

by Julie

New Year’s Eve has changed for me over the years. Ten years ago, it meant a big house party, copious amounts of booze, and getting home at 4 a.m. after waiting two hours for a cab. Five years ago, it meant a two hundred dollar dinner, copious amounts of wine, and walking home in stilettos because we could not get a cab. I’m not interested in doing either of those things anymore, even if I could; however, I’m not ready to spend the evening watching the ball drop on my television. You see, my birthday is New Year’s Eve, so I’m extra celebratory that day. I feel compelled to do something special.

So, what’s a parent to do on New Year’s Eve (besides get a babysitter). If you want to make it a family event, you can go to Nathan Phillips Square, or the Toronto Zoo. Or, you can do what we did last year and have a sleepover party.

We invited Penelope (whose birthday is January 2nd by the way), Chris and Bee (who is the same age as Cakes). The plan was to get the girls down early and have an adult evening (the plan worked on one girl). We had a nice dinner, wine, good conversation, and actually managed to stay up until midnight to toast the new year with champagne. Nobody needed to try to hunt down a cab. We didn’t pay double the usual price for dinner. The next morning we went for brunch. You would think the restaurants would be packed New Years Day, but only the families are there first thing in the morning – all of the hungover childless people don’t start to roll in until after 10.

Even if it’s just the two of you, put on something sexy, light the candles, treat yourself to something decadent to eat and drink and celebrate surviving another year of parenthood.

This year we will again be celebrating New Year’s Eve adult-style. We hope dinner will be memorable. I’ll be shaking up some pomegranate martinis*. With any luck, Cakes will be asleep by 7. There will be no Dick Clark in sight.

Happy New Year everyone!

* Pomegranate Martini

1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice (the PC juice blend is delish in this recipe)
2 oz. vodka
1 oz. Cointreau
ice

Shake ingredients in a shaker and pour in martini glasses. Garnish with pomegranate fruit.

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Julie has a baby girl and is currently working in the home. She keeps busy finishing her undergrad (English), caring for her family, reading lots of books, writing, and trying to figure out what the heck to do next.


Contact Julie at metro_mama@hotmail.com.