The Day I Took My Rings Off

I have three rings I wear: my engagement ring, which my husband’s grandmother gave to him (it had been hers), my wedding ring (the date of our anniversary carved inside), and an anniversary ring (bought long before four kids, a mortgage and a dog).

Back when we were talking about getting engaged, we would spend Sundays in South Florida wandering around the fancy outdoor malls they have, looking in the windows at Tiffany & Co. and Harry Winston and daydreaming about our future life together. That, of course, included the perfect ring, the perfect three children, the perfect dog, the perfectly cute home in the perfect neighborhood, the perfect schools and perfect vacations we’d take together, resulting in the perfect Christmas card. When you get engaged, all you want is the prettiest ring, the most fun and beautiful wedding, and then an amazing life together. And all you are thinking of when you walk down the aisle is the “for better.”

A few years in, reality takes over. The “for worse” creeps in. For worse is nights alone while the other travels. It’s losing the friends or relatives who watched you make your vows. For worse is when your husband figures out his boss is committing securities fraud, and he has to blow the whistle. It’s cold nights alone in the ER, grieving the babies you will never hold. It’s endless doctor’s appointments, endless amounts of money, and still ending up with an empty nursery. For worse is job loss and aging parents facing cancer, having to make the decision to move for a better career opportunity, trying to sell a house for what you paid for it. It’s taking a screaming, blood-covered child to the ER for stitches and pacing the floor for hours with a colicky baby. For worse sucks.

On our tenth anniversary, we spent the night at home. We had 5-week-old twins guzzling down formula as expensive as liquid gold, and two other older kids desperate for some attention. A babysitter was out of the question. We were completely and totally exhausted and spending every cent on diapers and formula. I’m not sure I even made dinner that night, though my husband sweetly managed to bring me flowers. We stared at each other and at the TV. I’m sure if you had asked me on my wedding day how I would be celebrating my tenth anniversary, I probably would have said, “Oh, I’m sure we’ll take a trip somewhere, maybe to Paris.” Ten years later I wanted to snarky-look at that naive girl and say, “Bless your heart, honey.” Because marriage is not all for better, which is why the “for worse” is in the vows. And if they spelled out the “for worse,” I doubt anyone would ever get married, because the details of “for worse,” can be pretty ugly, even though I would (extremely gratefully) call my marriage a very happy one.

After we had the twins, I held a baby for about 23 hours a day. My rings were always catching on their blankies or scratching their soft skin when I bathed them. My fingers were dried and rough from washing dozens of baby bottles a day, along with all their million little parts that were supposed to (but didn’t) help with reflux and colic. The skin under my rings was always raw and itching. And so I took them off. All the sparkle wasn’t as sweet as a tiny cheek soft under my chin or the sweet newborn neck folds or the sight of our older daughter and son holding their newborn siblings.

The thing is, you realize much later, it’s not about how pretty the rings or how amazing the wedding. It’s not about all the “for betters,” because that’s the easy (and fun) part. What makes a marriage, in the end, can be the “for worse.” In the dark ugliness is where real love learns to grow. The family we have grown together and the life we have built is what brings the joy. As wonderful as our wedding was, I know it is nothing compared to the almost 13 years of life we have woven with each other. We have had our “sickness and health,” “richer and poorer.” Our children are the jewels now. We don’t need to give each other gifts anymore. We have all we need in this marriage we have created. And I don’t need my rings to prove it.

Meg Sacks
Meg is a working mom of four and an avid community volunteer. She has worked in corporate communications and media relations for more than 18 years, for a Fortune 500 company as well as a non-profit. She took some time off to enjoy life as a stay at home mom after the birth of her first child in 2008. Her sweet, introverted daughter, was excited to welcome her baby brother in 2013, and then boy/girl twins joined the family in 2016. Meg finds being an “office mama” a constant balancing act and never-ending challenge but enjoys the opportunities it offers her for personal growth. A Virginia girl at heart, she loves Florida’s warm weather, the great quality of life Jacksonville offers her family.

11 COMMENTS

    • Ahhh! When I first read the title, my heart sank, as I believed it to be about a broken home and all the hearts involved….
      Thank you for your sharing of what life is really about and all the daily struggles that young parents and professionals have to juggle.
      I wish the best for you, but most importantly I wish you a lifetime of experiences.
      Hopefully the Paris trip is in your Bucket List- and you and hubby will enjoy a later anniversary trip.
      My husband and I “tied the knot” 48 years ago- I wouldn’t change a thing- it’s the trieal that make you stronger and more in love.
      Bod Bless you!!

  1. I loved you as JL President and I do adore you even more so now! What a precious story. Many blessings to you and your beautiful family. Thank you for sharing!

  2. I had to take mine off during the later parts of pregnancies because I’d gained enough weight that they no longer fit. And with the most recent pregnancy, I gained the most I ever have and still have some extra weight that is keeping my hands bigger than my rings. I wear the earrings he gave me 20 years ago. They’re still my favorite.

  3. This is the first of your blog that I’ve read and I’m blown away. I love this so much!! It resonates with me in many ways… it reminds me of a quote about authors: the world is waiting for your words. In this case, your words have impacted a total stranger in ways you’ll never know!! Thank you&

  4. Crying! This is so true and perfect! I am in the worse part of life. One of the very many I know my marriage and life has in store. It’s hard and heartbreaking but I wake up every day and fight for love I know I have for my husband and fight for the love that will live on the other side of this hard time. This is exactly what I needed to read today. Thank you.

  5. Sentiment is right on. While I’m not as attached to the whole shiny, sparkly ring, I do believe too many people have rose colored glasses on going into something that is so difficult and that takes so much constant effort over time. Being consistently loving, forgiving, selfless is not the forte of many folks these days. People do need more self awareness and understanding of relationships. It can be studied just as one can study how to care for a newborn or a pet. Being deliberate isn’t unromantic. Its smart.

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