The Rx for a Better Marriage: More Sex

There was an interesting article in the New York Times recently about a pastor, Rev. Ed Young suggesting his parishioners take a 7-day sex challenge to try to improve their marriages. I'm guessing among some evangelical churchgoers this is a shocking concept. But the article isn't what interests me, it was the reaction on Twitter. A single guy remarked angrily "single people have the same needs as married people!"

Ummm, I beg to differ. How many poopy diapers have you changed in the last YEAR? How many sleepless nights have you been up, trying to calm a fussy baby back to sleep? How many of your conversations have been interrupted by crying? You probably get to do lots of things you take for granted as a childless, single, unencumbered. Here, let me point some out for you:

• Going to see whatever movie you want, whenever you want.
• Reading a book, whenever you want. The entire book.
• Flying off to a far-flung location, on a whim.
• Eating out? Okay, no problem.
• Getting amorous and knowing you won't be interrupted by small children.
• Going on vacation? Again, no problem.
• Going to the bar for drinks, going on a whole-weekend bender? Bring it!

This is a problem you don't understand the enormity of, until you have none of these items anymore. Not one. You don't get to pick and choose, it's just that your life gets sidelined into something else. Something called parenthood.