The news of Prince Harry’s engagement started tongues wagging immediately. And, even though the wedding is months away, the media-frenzy has already begun.
I remember when Harry’s mom and dad were newly engaged. The whole world was completely entranced with every detail. It was like watching a real life fairy tale unfold before our eyes and people could talk of nothing else.
At the time, my life was as far removed from Princess Di’s as you could get.
Diana moved into a castle. I lived in an old rented trailer parked over a swamp. While Diana was attending fancy functions in designer gowns, I was cleaning up poopy diapers in stretch pants. And, while everyone was captivated by every teeny-tiny detail of Diana’s life, I was living way out in the country with only a colicky baby to keep me company.
The side effect of all that press surrounding Diana was that it made our own lives look pretty bleak in comparison. And, even though women rushed into salons to get the “Diana cut” we knew deep down that we would never come close to having her life.
Of course, we now know that she didn’t live the fairy tale we thought she did. But, once again the world is entranced by another royal wedding. And, we here at All Mom Does couldn’t help but compare our own proposal stories:
Kristina just had a feeling that her husband was going to propose, so she went and had a manicure done so she’d be “ring-picture” ready!
In contrast, Stephanie had no idea her husband was going to propose … after two years of dating … on a weekday … during a normal dinner out. She was so caught off guard that she hadn’t even washed her hair that day.
Rebecca got her proposal in her home during dinner on Valentine’s Day. And, Emily’s husband was exhausted from driving all the way from Montana to propose on their favorite beach.
My daughter (the colicky baby from the beginning of this blog) went on a hike with her husband. Once they arrived at a scenic viewpoint, he got so nervous that he started breathing really weird and had his hand on his chest. My poor daughter seriously thought he was having a heart attack!
My proposal was probably the least romantic of all (and my husband and I joke about it to this day). I’m not a very patient person. So, after nine months of dating I figured he should have been sure by then or else I was just going to move on with my life and I told him as much. The poor guy had had a very painful first marriage and was understandably gun-shy. But, he also knew I meant what I said. The next day, when he drove me home from work, he mumbled, “I guess I’m ready for a commitment.” And, that was my proposal. (But, since then he has proven his love and romantic nature a million times over).
There was no press when any of us got engaged. It wasn’t world news and no one besides our friends and family cared. We didn’t get married in a grand cathedral (I got married in a funeral home, but that’s a story for another time). But, when it comes right down to it, we really wouldn’t have it any other way. For, our un-newsworthy proposals started us on the crazy paths that led us to where we are today. And, that makes them perfect (although we wouldn’t say no to a tiara or two!).
I looked up how Harry proposed to Meghan for comparison and it turns out that he proposed while they were cooking dinner. It was just a normal evening, no fireworks, no grand splendor. And, like us here at All Mom Does, Meghan thought it was just perfect.
