This weekend I got to escape and go to a trunk show (FANCY!) at my friend Jenn's house, because she has created a rockin' line of handbags and jewelry, and THEN I got to spend the night at my friend Amy's.
A few hours before I left, my parents picked up A for a visit at their house. When I told my mom about my weekend plans she said, "Oh, poor Jason!"
Hmm.
Poor Jason had given me "permission" to attend the aforementioned events, and had encouraged me to leave earlier, spend the night, and generally lollygag in Columbus.
Poor Jason only had three children to care for, and he and the boys staged a 24-hour video game marathon. It was also SpongeBob SpongeBash or something, and SpongeBob was on around the clock all weekend, so that occupies about 50% of Haney's time. The rest of the time is spent aimlessly wandering around crying, but there's nothing anyone can do about that so we've learned to all but tune it out.
Poor Jason is also very good at cooking, and has been caring for our babies solo since they were born, thanks to our staggered work schedules.
Poor Jason.
My mom didn't do this -- she didn't "get away" when we were little. She had a few friends, but they only talked on the phone or maybe went out to lunch occasionally once we were all in school. My dad worked full time, and while he was very hands-on for his generation, his involvement ended with making sure we took baths and reading us stories one night a week while my mom grocery shopped. He earned the money, and she managed the household.
Now I earn, too, but I still get "poor Jason" when I leave him with the children. Jason does household chores, but still most advertising hinges on the idea of the ignorant husband vs. the supermom. Stupid husbands never know how to get out tough household stains. :(
Mommy Break
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When it comes to children and pets, I can be extremely patient, and I
confess to being rather proud of this trait. A lot of people tire of my
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My husband and your mother would see eye to eye on this. His standard answer for darn near anything is, "but, you're a woman and you're their mother." Very observant man my husband is.
ReplyDeleteI love it when I am away from the kids and people ask me "Is Rick babysitting?" Uh, no, they're his damn kids, there's no babysitting involved...
ReplyDeleteMy mom always says the same thing. I've explained that to the kids we are interchangable - co-parents - and that is what you have to be when you both have demanding jobs. I think it might be harder for you since you work at home so everyone assumes you are on-call 24/7.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about the bow. HA! I have about five posts in the works but I can't seem to make a closing statment. I'm just going to post them as is. It's a new trend.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about "poor husbands". My parents act the same about Joe. But Joe does as much, IF NOT MORE, than I do. He does chores AND all the "spin me around, pull me in the toy box, throw me into the wall, Daddy!" stuff. And my parents were much as you described. My mom worked full-time but my dad worked ALL the time.
I am leaving for LA in a few weeks and I just KNOW that I'll hear about it when I get back. I'm a little concerned about the trip until I remember I am going on a girls' trip to L freaking A. :)
ReplyDeleteMy husband does the laundry and irons his own clothes.
ReplyDelete"Awww Poooooor Patrick" my mom complained upon learning of our arrangement.
So I explained to her, "Hubby likes to wear clean, neatly pressed clothes on a daily basis so he makes it happen. Besides I'm sure his Dad isn't sitting around feeling sorry for me if I do a "man job" like throw the trash or mow the lawn."
The point was well taken.
My sister and I just discussed this a few days ago! I am convinced this is a generational thing. That whole generation is always saying Poor Tom. Poor Bob. Poor Larry. The fifties seriously confused them for life. I blame the juice cans they had to sleep on to get the big curls. That or the panty hose.
ReplyDeletePet peeve, pet peeve!!!! Grrrrr.
ReplyDeleteLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL.........
ReplyDeletenuff said... But seriously- my husband and I are also co-parents and co-household runners in every way. My mom thinks it's the greatest thing- we have what she wishes she had made happen in her own life, so she just thinks it's the bee's knees... When my hubby was out of work for a bit, he just stepped up and told me that since I was still working and he wasn't, in addition to looking for a job (obviously!), he would take care of the laundry, cooking, and cleaning- that would be his job. Just logical... My mom said in awe- "HOW did you get him to do THAT?!?" LOL
Oh, my mom also had the "working from home" vs. "stay at home mom" issue. She always says now that she wishes she would have said "working from home", because everyone just thought of her as the "stay at home mom" and she got volunteered for everything... I have to admit- working out of the house is one thing that I am rather thankful for- it's a nice break if nothing else!!
ReplyDeleteMy mom says that kind of stuff too. makes me crazy. Poor MEEEEEE! Do these matriarchs not remember what it was like way back then? Grr. On a lighter note, good for Jason! Sounds like he is an awesome hubby!
ReplyDeleteBTW, it helps that he's a dad of twins. It's baptism by fire. They don't get a choice. They HAVE to be just as involved...not just "helping or babysitting"! Another pet peeve, sorry.
Don't you just love that!?! My grandpa asked me if I get up and make Pat breakfast before work. I was all "last time I checked my husband knew perfectly well how to pour his own bowl of cereal" and my Grandpa got MAD at me! I am SO glad times have changed, because I would have divorced a man like my Grandpa in a red hot second.
ReplyDeleteWe have the same thing here.
ReplyDeleteMy Mom: "Oh, let Dustin sit and eat. He works soooo hard."
My Mom: "You really should encourage Dustin to go golfing. Do something for himself this weekend. He works so hard..... It looks like you missed a spot on the floor."