Last weekend being Memorial Day weekend, we did what any other American family would do: spent the entire time in completely different areas of the country. The Witch went off to spend the weekend with some of our greatest friends from our law school days and the kids and I hung out back in Texas. This is only fair, given the number of weekends I've left solo to run marathons or close deals or similar.
Now, before I start saying anything that will get me in trouble, let's get one thing straight: I didn't take over the house completely for the four days. I didn't do any laundry. I skipped trimming the yard for this week. The floors were swept, but not scrubbed and mopped (tidy but unclean?). And so on. So let's not pretend that the pattern of the weekend was sustainable over a longer term.
That said, I hope the Witch goes away again now and again. Nothing against her but we had a blast. We (well, the kids - I was good) ate moderately unhealthy food. We watched too many cartoons and played too many video games. We took walks. We went swimming. We had an introduction to miniature golf. We made ethnic foods. (We also kept the house clean, which was a pretty big deal as far as I am concerned).
I don't get why there's this perceived fear among fathers (and mothers on their behalf) about dads taking care of the kids. I don't feel it. Other dads I know don't feel it. Maybe it's a perception-and-not-reality thing. All it really did was give me more time with the kids to know them better.
For example, I know the various distress noises my kids make now. Boo's shriek when she wants something that probably isn't hears is much different (and much louder) than her shriek when she sees a bug. Bardo has a special cry/whine when he injuries himself in a way that doesn't quite reach band-aid level. And so forth. Not that they are particularly whiny or anything (not in MY house, anyway) but I don't know that I've paid a ton of attention to the particulars of each peep as a form of communication.
One thing I didn't do was take any pictures. Sorry. We were having too much fun. I got nothing else done last weekend because we were playing so much. Which probably makes it one of the more successful weekends I've had in a while.
5 comments:
Dad time is important. I also escaped last weekend and left Adam as Mr. Mom. The kids love it and get to do way more Dad activities. I came home to a clean house and a happy family! And all the laundry folded! It was fabulous.
I thought it was funny when I got home, and you said, "So I think we're even now..."
I meant we were even in terms of random vacations taken solo. Or close, anyway. I may have taken a couple more days, but you took a holiday weekend.
I seem to remember a trip taken during paternity leave and you have hiked coyote several times. Equal? You're lucky we haven't kept an accounting.
I think when we focus on being fair to each other someone could wind up bitter. I prefer to focus on loving you and making you happy.
I seem to remember a trip taken during paternity leave and you have hiked coyote several times. Equal? You're lucky we haven't kept an accounting.
I think when we focus on being fair to each other someone could wind up bitter. I prefer to focus on loving you and making you happy.
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