Mom vs. dad. My husband and I have different views on what a “day in the life” looks like. When I am around, things look a lot different than when my husband is flying solo. I was away from home recently for work and started thinking about what my husband and I do differently.
Mom
*This is a typical day in a universe where everything goes to plan. I try.
- Does the best she can with getting everyone up on time.
- Prepares a healthy breakfast.
- Brushes hair, teeth, helps get everyone dressed.
- Makes sure kid has vitamins and clean hands.
- Plays music or talks to kid on the way to school.
- Tries to get kid to school on time.
- Has a fun activity planned for after school.
- Prepares a healthy dinner and small dessert.
- Gives kid a bath (washes hair and face).
- Gets kid to bed at a normal bedtime to ensure a reasonable amount of sleep to do it all again the next day.
Dad
*This is a typical day when Dad is in charge.
- Lets kid sleep until she wakes up.
- Does not brush hair or teeth. Kid may or may not have shoes on.
- Takes kid to fast food restaurant or out for donuts.
- What are vitamins?
- Gives kid his phone on the way to school. Listens to hair metal.
- Gets kid to school an hour late.
- Lets kid play on phone after school.
- Orders fast food for dinner. Lets kid eat on the couch while watching television.
- Gives kid two chocolate chip cookies the size of her head.
- Gives a bath. No hair washing. Chocolate still caked on her face for bedtime.
- Lets kid stay up watching television in bed until she falls asleep.
Which Do You Think the Kid Prefers?
If you said BOTH, you are correct!
I think that even though my husband and I have very different ways of doing things, we balance each other out. My daughter enjoys the time she spends with her dad and it gives him a chance to spoil her a little. My daughter also enjoys the time she spends with me.
Bottom line – we are all doing the best we can, so even if your “day in the life” looks more like DAD every day – go for it. You do you. I think the most important thing we can do is love on our children and balance out fast food with healthy food; staying up late with plenty of rest.
