tales-from-the-dad-side

[tales-from-the-dad-side]

Tonight (the 4th of July) 10:22 pm

Balthazar: WHERES MY SANDWICH??? (Grilled cheese)

Me: here you go buddy

Balthazar: DOES IT HAVE MUSTARD MAYONNAISE AND KETCHUP ON IT??

Me: it has—

Balthazar: DOES IT HAVE MUSTARD MAYONNAISE AND KETCHUP ON IT??

Me: it has mustard and mayonnaise on it because that’s what you ask for. Don’t come at me right now.

[tales-from-the-dad-side]

The Greatest Things: Part One

One of the best things about being a Stay At Home Parent is that no one really sees what you do all day. They have the general concept, but in no way know what it’s actually like.

Somehow, if you had an “outside the house” job like a janitor , or short order cook, or daycare then that would be more real, elicit more sympathy.

But, you just get to stay home all day with your kid(s) while THEY have to go to JOBS. What’s so bad about that?

Why’s so bad about cleaning the kitchen three or four times a day? Constantly washing/drying/folding/putting away laundry? Making three full meals in addition to an innumerable amount of snacks? What’s so bad about ceaselessly cleaning up after your children while also doing at least the bare minimum to keep the house from looking like a shit show? What’s so bad about waking up next to your child and then being next to them every waking moment until you put them to bed again, often sleeping next to the the entire night and waking up to do it all over again? What’s SOOOOOO difficult about remembering that your actions and words have a permanent impact on a very impressionable young mind whom it was your decision to create and care for? Can you really complain about how you had to give up nearly everything you’ve ever enjoyed, all your free time, and also any independent income?

Is it really so bad?

But they don’t see that. Do you know what they do see? The 27th mess on the floor that you didn’t have a chance to clean up, even though you cleaned up the other 26. The five dishes in the sink, even though if you hadn’t done any all day, it would be overflowing. Your kid being cranky because…that’s what mood they’re in at the moment and no amount of soothing or cajoling on your part will make any difference.

You know that. They don’t. They don’t have time to know that. They have jobs to go to. Hard jobs. Stressful jobs that they did all day. They need time to relax. Time to decompress. It’s just too much to WORK ALL DAY, and then be expected to clock in at ANOTHER job, right?

Of course. So, you’ll just go from Day Crew to Night Crew. Because it never stops. This is your life/job now.

But hey: at least it pays well.

[tales-from-the-dad-side]

A message to the three followers this blog (under a different name) has: no worries if you’re not into this. I just got too lazy to make a different blog so I revamped this one.

[tales-from-the-dad-side]

This blog is about the adventures of DadLyfe, with my children. Balthazar and Otilla, as well as my partner, Tabitha.* And when I say “adventures” I mean it mostly sucks and I’m trying to find at least one good thing each day.

I’m doing this publicly (or at least as public as tumblr is) on the off chance there’s a mom or dad out there who can identify. Or if someone with no kids needs reasons to continue to not have kids.

*names have been changed