Frumpy Father's Day June 2007

Last month I shared with you my discovery of the mysterious book I found called the “Official Mother’s Day Handbook.” What I neglected to mention was the book had an epilogue, called “Father’s Day Wisdom.”

According to this controversial book, since fathers are usually away from their family most of the time, they prefer to spend Father’s Day at home with the kids. The anonymous author states, “Mothers must leave the house for the day, allowing fathers to spend uninterrupted quality time with their children. This demonstrates the wife’s implicit trust in her husband’s ‘mothering’ skills.”

At first glance I was delighted with this intriguing concept. I admit that I am the first one in the household to demand my ‘alone time.’ If I don’t have some time away from the family on a regular basis, I get downright mean! My husband has known for years that I implicitly trust him with my children. But since I started working full time, I realize that he has actually been home with the kids more than I have.

My husband also has become surprisingly organized. He makes sure the lunches are packed, clothes laid out, and all shoes, backpacks and coats are lined up by the front door most nights. (It only took him one morning of playing ‘Find the Shoe’ to show him that NOTHING should be left to chance in the mornings.) Of course, this is the exact opposite of my procrastinating personality. My husband and I are polar opposites – he’s King of the Night Owls and I’m Princess Perky in the morning.

Since being back to work, I know how tired my husband really is when he walks through the door at 8:00 pm. Yet he always has a bear hug and a wrestling move ready for everyone. While I’m very ‘snarly’ at night, he’s all smiles and hugs.

Despite all the times that I have complained about my husband, I realize that our family couldn’t survive without him. He is the one who keeps us lighthearted and gives us strength even on our most frustrating days. He is the one who plays, really plays with the children. He is the one who teaches them how to do chores - where I find it easier to do it myself.

Even my 2 year old knows how to empty the dishwasher. Of course, I mutter about never finding my potato peeler in the same place twice, but hey, my dishes are always done - slightly chipped in places - but clean.

So I guess on Father’s Day, I need to prop up the pillows on the couch, hand my husband the remote, along with an ice cold beverage, and take the kids out for the day so he can relax, and enjoy his favorite sport from his single days – Channel Surfing. And I think I’ll just rip out the epilogue at the end of the book and mail it to a mother who truly needs it.


Disclaimer:
The author wishes the reader to understand that while her husband is awesome, she is still the only one who cleans the bathrooms.