I believe in soul mates.

A soul mate is someone who understands you and your needs implicitly, who can switch gears when you do, who takes you on adventures, who quite simply blows your hair back. I am one of those lucky people to have found my soul mate. And did I mention he has a great body?

My husband, you ask? Ha-ha, adorable. And no.

I'm talking about Todd, my two-door soft-top Jeep Wrangler. Don't worry; the husband knows about Todd and has come to terms with our extramarital love affair. He even has gotten used to my gossiping to friends about taking Todd's top off and enjoying a ride. Twice. Truly, the husband has no reason to be jealous because, ultimately, I chose him. I chose our family.

Todd and I broke up almost exactly three years ago, after I had my son. Though the husband could embrace Todd into our lives, I'm guessing Child Protective Services would have looked down on a sunburned 1-month-old's being wind-lashed in the back seat as we barreled down the highway, topless, doorless and free. Giving up Todd felt as if I was giving up a part of myself.

There are a bajillion articles (yes, that's the actual number) written for new parents to encourage them not to lose themselves in their new role as Mommy or Daddy. But some hobbies just have to go for practical reasons, such as raising rabid wolverines, becoming an amateur indoor pyrotechnics artist and driving a car that you've always secretly wanted to test the rollover bar on. It was time to give up my more reckless interests for responsible ones. Tears were shed as Todd was traded in for a family-friendly crossover utility vehicle.

Sometimes I think I see him driving in front of me, the sunlight bouncing off his taillights into my eyes. And I wonder whether he, like Clint Eastwood hanging the charm on his rearview mirror at the end of "The Bridges of Madison County," is beckoning me to follow him. Oh, Meryl Streep and I have so much in common — and not just our shared Oscar nominations and raw beauty and talent. We both know what it's like to choose our children over our soul mates.

Like many parents, I actively encourage my personal interests and have been pointing out Jeeps to my son since before he could hold up his own head. So when I saw that Little Tikes had come out with a toddler Jeep bed, owning it became my obsession. And by owning it, I mean my owning it. Let's be clear; this bed would be for me under the guise of being for my son.

For nearly a year, I fantasized about that Jeep bed, about turning on the bed's headlights and dome light — which actually work! — as I read my son his bedtime stories. Naturally, my son would feel a little scared his first few nights out of the crib. I would tell him, No worries, son. I'm happy to sleep in bed with you. I would say, Just for tonight. But I wouldn't mean it.

In preparation for the new arrival, I decorated my son's room so the Jeep bed would feel at home. Stars were placed on the ceiling. Dead batteries in the moon nightlight were replaced. A tent was set up in the corner of the room. The room took the shape of the great outdoors as I waited patiently for my son to outgrow his crib.

And then it happened. My son climbed out of his crib for the first time. That very thing that had terrified me for so long — the broken bones, the concussions! — was now greeted with unadulterated glee. He climbed out! The crib is no longer safe! Hurray! We can transition him to a big-boy bed! A big-boy Jeep bed!

His first night, the bedtime routine went exactly how I had envisioned over the past year. My son and I snuggled under the covers as I read him bedtime stories by the light of the Jeep bed's headlights. The star stickers shone above us. The pitter-patter of rainfall came from the sound machine. When the stories were finished, I said, "You probably want me to sleep here because it's your first night in a new bed, huh."

"Nope!" my son announced proudly. "Leave, Mommy. Good night!"

But, but, but...

Crestfallen.

Like Katiedid Langrock on Facebook, at http://www.facebook.com/katiedidhumor. Check out her column at http://didionsbible.com. To find out more about Katiedid Langrock and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.