Sometimes, things take place that defy any explanation other than, "because I’m a parent."
Because I’m a parent, my morning routine is usually a hectic one. As with most mornings, my wife got up before me today at around 5:30 in the morning and took her shower. After losing yet another battle with the snooze button, I got up and made the bed as she washed, relieved myself at the toilet, and then stood bleary-eyed on the scales while the morning news blared from the television. Luckily I got the order right once again. Once she got out of the shower, I entered and felt a bit of life return to my body as I escaped to within the warmth of the shower. The moment was brief though as my morning routine had only just begun.
Because I’m a parent, I rushed out of the shower, combed my hair and applied deodorant. My wife will usually have selected the kid’s outfits by now, but on this morning she was feeling a little rough from a nasty cold, so I filled in her duties. I got dressed and ran into each child’s bedroom with a morning greeting and a flick of the light switch. My rebuttal was that of groans and heads tucked further beneath the covers. I offered up another cheerful and melodic salutation as I selected each outfit, followed by a more stern, but often repeated, "Come on guys, we’re running late!"
Because I’m a parent, I grabbed each kid’s shoes out of their respective closets and placed them at the top of the stairs. I then returned and made each bed as I heard the television station changed to the Disney channel. I issued another warning of "get dressed NOW" in my stern daddy-voice as I smoothed the last wrinkles from the Sleeping Beauty comforter in my daughter’s Princess-themed room. Returning to my room with combs, brush and detangling conditioner in hand, I found the pajamas spread somehow amongst the farthest corners of the room. Gathering her nightshirt and his pajamas, I tossed them in the hallway to remind me to take them to their rooms to fold. I shoved her panties in my pocket and clumsily started to spray my daughter’s hair with conditioner to straighten out her locks. His poker straight hair was a bit easier to comb, although his two cowlicks still defied my best head press.
Because I’m a parent, I barked out orders for each kid to head to the kitchen downstairs and to not forget their shoes. I grabbed the pajamas in the hall and quickly folded and placed each on the respective kid’s bed. Gathering my cell phone (used as my alarm), empty water glass, and hair-grooming tool, I juggled each item to the end of the hall where I picked up two pairs of shoes with the very tips of available fingers. I carried all items down stairs to the kitchen, dropped the shoes to the floor, placed the combs on the table and laid my phone isolated next to the re-charger. The Disney Channel crooned from the family room.
Because I’m a parent, I poured two glasses of orange juice and retrieved two Flintstones vitamins and laid them on the kitchen table. I tossed Cinnamon French Toaster Sticks (ONLY Aunt Jemima brand) into the microwave for my son and poured a bowl of "Daddy Cheerio’s" (Multigrain) into a bowl for my daughter. As the toaster sticks nuked, I poured coffee, V8 and more Daddy Cheerios for my wife and announced to the kids that their juice was on the table. The sticks being done, I placed grape jelly on one side of the pile and syrup on the other side, just as I do every day. Both breakfasts were placed on the table with an announcement that "breakfast is ready, so turn off the TV." I placed my wife’s breakfast, plus toast, on a tray and ran it to her back upstairs so that she could continue to get herself ready on time. Disney was still playing on our TV.
Because I’m a parent, I returned to the family room, turned off the TV and used the daddy-voice once again to urge the kids to the breakfast table. As I packed lunches, I answered the daily questions of "Is this Fred Flintstone?" "Which one has the mountain hair (Bam-Bam)?" "Is Dino a dog or a dinosaur?" and "Who ARE the Flintstones anyway?"
Because I’m a parent, I fixed my breakfast (Jimmy Dean omelet and bacon) last and ate it as I continued to pack the lunches and ensure I had the right homework in the right backpack. I poured my wife a travel mug full of coffee and placed her lunch by the door. As I packed my lunch, I noticed one child was missing and the other finger-painting a masterpiece on his plate with grape jelly. By some miracle, his shirt remained clean. The bathroom door closed and my daughter returned to the table, while announcing that the cat was making strange noises in the living room.
Because I’m a parent, I cleaned the cat barf off the carpet while barking orders to the kids to "PLEASE finish your breakfast and go brush your teeth." A blur ran by me with a recognizable voice saying, "gottagoluvyyahaveanicedaybye" and I swear I felt a kiss on my lips. I returned the near empty keg of pet stain remover and washed my hands as each child made their own interpretation of the earlier cat noises.
Because I’m a parent, I grabbed a plate of half-eaten toaster sticks and a near full bowl of Multigrain Cheerios and growled, "brush your teeth NOW" in my grizzliest of bear voices. Both kids ran to their bathroom as if their lives depended on it as I loaded the dishwasher and packed my briefcase. I eventually went back upstairs with comb, brush, and conditioner in hand to my own bedroom where I was greeted by the sounds of the Disney Channel. I ran an electric razor over my face, brushed my teeth, combed my hair and put on my shoes. I stuffed a wallet in one pocket and a handkerchief in another as I felt the sniffles coming on, having apparently been transferred in the earlier run-by kiss from my wife. I turned off the TV (finally) and found that my daughter was just starting to brush her teeth as a couple gallons of toothpaste-laden water drained from the sink from my sons’ tooth brushing. My growl had turned to a surrendering sigh and a plea to PLEASE hurry up.
Because I’m a parent, I helped my son tie his shoes in a proper double knot and handed him his jacket. I loaded my briefcase and lunch box into the car and clipped the now lifeless cell phone onto my belt. As the car warmed up, I returned inside the house and tied my daughter’s shoes and wiped the toothpaste off her mouth. She put on her jacket and both kids grabbed their backpacks and headed to the car. I turned out the lights, gave the cat a stare as he belched, and headed for the car myself. My kids teased me that I placed the wrong water bottles in their backpacks, so I corrected the error as they stared frozen and unable to comprehend they could have corrected this themselves.
Because I’m a parent, I drove carefully to the school despite running at least 15 minutes later than planned. I pulled up to the school, and reminded each child to give me a hug and kiss. I assured each that I loved them and that their mom would be picking them up after school. I watched the tikes walk into the big building in my rearview mirror as I drove off to work.
Because I’m a parent, I arrived at a workplace I enjoy, but sometimes wonder if it’s what I really want to do in my life. I looked at the photographs of my kids and their original artwork posted on my cubicle walls and realized, once again, that I do it for the kids, so they can have the things they need. My wife and I endure work, adult responsibilities and our own illnesses in order to give our children all that we can. Mentally recharged, I headed to the daily morning production meeting, at which I’m always expected a little late. I quietly walked in and took my place to lean against a side table when I felt the sniffles coming back. As I felt the sneeze rise, I reached for my handkerchief and let out a large sneeze.
And because I’m a parent, I stood before my colleagues with a pair of pink Cinderella panties pressed against my face.
8 comments:
are you friggin' kiddin' me...you need a flippn'p wife! If she were mine I would demand a divorce and child support... sorry my friend if I was you as a single parent I would support you. But my god you have a lazy as wife...
You might want to find a life!! Nothing funny hear!
hey sorry pal,
I agree with my friend...
You are out of your mind....
You would have more time for you and your kid if you were alone.
Are you trying to be funny?
I typically accept any comments, good or bad, as constructive advise to improve my writing and story-telling skills. With the exception of an occasional “thank you,” I rarely feel a need to respond. After all, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. But in this case, I feel a response is necessary.
Perhaps my blog "Because I’m a Parent" was too long-winded before arriving at the punch line. My intent was merely to offer a humorous explanation as to why I stood in the conference room at work with a pair of little girl panties pressed against my nose. The only explanation I could come up with at the moment was “because I’m a parent,” thus the inspiration to share the experience with others. Whether or not the humor was conveyed effectively is definitely a matter of opinion. But forming an opinion of my wife based on a 2-hour snap-shot of my life is completely irresponsible and ignorant.
One respondent referred to her as a “lazy as wife” (your spelling, not mine) and stated that there was “nothing funny hear”…(again, your spelling, not mine). By the 10 second snap-shot of your opinion, I can ascertain that you are somewhat illiterate with a limited education and incapable of offering any responsibility to a happy family existence. But that would probably be an incorrect assumption on my part since I’ve only been exposed to a single thought of your entire life.
Likewise, you have no idea of the goings on in my household outside of those two hours of a hectic morning. If you’d read closely (assuming now that you are indeed literate), you would have seen that she was feeling under the weather. The truth is, she had a nasty stomach virus…one she caught from me a week ago, and I was doing my best to ease her morning routine, just as she did last week during my illness. On most mornings, she contributes much more than I conveyed in my story. But the fact is that I’ve gladly accepted the bulk of morning responsibilities as she pretty much dominates the workload in the afternoon and into the evening. During the day, she’s a daycare teacher who successfully monitors and teaches up to ten 3-year olds by herself with no teaching assistant. This afternoon, she’ll be running my kids to karate and gymnastics class after her tiring workday. She does a lot and more than her fair share of the family workload, including much of the house cleaning and laundry. She, is most definitely not a “lazy as wife” as you so eloquently stated. In fact, you should be so blessed to have a wife as wonderful as mine.
As for the suggestion that I might want to find a life…I have. My life is my family, and my family is my life. As any responsible parent knows, particularly parents of multiples, life is full of hectic mornings and events. But for every frustration and obstacle, there are hundreds of rewards and moments of pure joy. If one can’t stop to reflect on the humor of even the more hectic times, then one lives a truly sad and bitter existence.
I would like to apologize on behalf of the first poster - that has to have been my husband. Last night I came home with a dozen grocery bags, to a sink full of dishes, laundry in various stages of the cleaning process, and dinner to cook - and I did it all on my own. He was already home when I got there - I believe he did carry in a few bags - but after establishing that his responsibilities were complete, took off first for the computer and then outside where he disappeared into his 'shop'. I think your wife is lucky to have a man who understands that "family" includes him, and not as one of the children, to be taken care of by her, but rather as one of the adults in charge of life. I think your wife is lucky to have a husband who doesn't think his time is more valuable than hers in regards to getting ready and out the door to work in the mornings. As for the pink princess panties...the moment you put them in your pocket, I KNEW they'd go to work with you. You indeed have a 'family'.
I must say I was a little surprised how somebody could leave such a mean response. Maybe surprised is not the right word..offended for Al and Al's wife. While I was reading the blog,I had to giggle and nod my head fully understanding the trials of trying to get children ready in the morning with everything else thrown in that life throws at you. Stepping up and doing what needs to be done for the sake of the family is what one does when needed. Al said his wife was not feeling well. It seems to me they have two happy children based on what I read in the blogs...so I guess both parents are doing something right. That was once snapshot of a morning when a bit of the morning was taken to work in the pocket of a daddy who loves his family.
I, being "purty smart for a gurl", have to say that I enjoyed having been allowed to peek into the world of Al and his family. While nodding in agreement, fully understanding every single event, as I have lived of them to one degree or another in my OWN life and family, I could not refrain from smiling. What a lovely picture has been painted of a very tender and loving atmosphere, in which Al has chosen to not only accept, but to fully embrace the roll of Daddy and Husband. How refreshing that there are some men out there who "get it", this whole concept of family. I think the story was beautifully written and know that the "hero" of this blog does ALL that he does...because he is a parent.
All hail, king Al. *grin*
Just as a side note: how odd that those who had nasty comments felt the need to hide behind anonymity..(that means not using an identifiable username) and also, I had to smile when anonymous 1 said, "you might want to find a life!!" when he is the one reading about someone else's, rather than living, building, or enjoying his own. (The pronouns "he" and "his" are used here soley as grammatical rules dictate and are in no way indicative of the assumption as to the true gender of either anonymous 1 or anonymous 2. )
Some people don't understand what its like to be sick, and have kids.
When I"m not feeling well, I am SO grateful for my husband to take over for me!
Likewise, when he's not feeling well, I cater to him- bring him food, drinks, blankets, whatever he wants.
It's called being loving, and caring. It escapes a lot of foloks, I know.
Good for you for being a good daddy and hubby!
I completely agree with the last several comments. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Al's story and laughed out loud when I got to the punchline. My first husband used to say "Why do I have to babysit the kids tonight?" when I had class to attend or a meeting to go to. My answer always was "It's not babysitting when you're taking care of your own kids!" I now have a wonderful NEW husband who does the laundry and helps me clean house and run the kids to their activities and we share all the "chores" -- I could TOTALLY relate to everything Al wrote! Great job! :)
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