One of those days

I got home last night and apparently the boys had worked over my wife pretty well yesterday. My youngest boy was at the table eating dinner while my oldest boy was being removed from his bath early due to bad behavior. My wife opens the bathroom door, lets out my naked and now crying son, tells me "I'll be back later", grabs her car keys and walks out the back door. Luckily I knew it where she was going since she attends a prayer meeting at church every Tuesday night.

It took me a little while to piece together what had happened based on the condition of the house and some info from the oldest son (the youngest can't talk yet). I knew the oldest was beyond his ability to reason anymore so I just fired up some TV on the iPad while I bathed his brother. Pajamas, stories, medicine (both are sick), bottle for the little one, rocking chair and they were both out by 8:30.

Do they make campaign medals for stay-at-home Moms? You know, something I can pin on her diaper bag to let other moms know she's done her tours of service.

In reply to slefain:

I don't know the answer to your question but I firmly believe you are very wise for asking it.

slefain wrote: Do they make campaign medals for stay-at-home Moms? You know, something I can pin on her diaper bag to let other moms know she's done her tours of service.

Not quite the same, but I believe what you are looking for is a babysitter Friday night, combined with some flowers, a dinner out, and a spa gift certificate for Saturday while you clean the house. Oh, earrings are nice too.

Worked for my dad, works for me (minus the kids thing, that isn't in the picture), might work for you.

Ah, yes. One of THOSE days. BTDT, but I'm the stay-at-home and my wife has the good fortune of a quiet relaxing day at work.

Just be there when you're needed, and give her a day off every once in a while. Let her know you appreciate all that she does.

slefain wrote: . Do they make campaign medals for stay-at-home Moms? You know, something I can pin on her diaper bag to let other moms know she's done her tours of service.

You should offer her the opportunity to have sex with you.

Woody wrote:

slefain wrote: . Do they make campaign medals for stay-at-home Moms? You know, something I can pin on her diaper bag to let other moms know she's done her tours of service.

You should offer her the opportunity to have sex with you.

Ahahahah...no. I knew when I walked in the door there would be no sexy time that night.

Woody wrote:

slefain wrote: . Do they make campaign medals for stay-at-home Moms? You know, something I can pin on her diaper bag to let other moms know she's done her tours of service.

You should offer her the opportunity to have sex with you.

This!!! LOL

Duck and run after the proposition.

Been there. A lot. There isn't much you can do other than pick up the pieces. Let me know if you find something to make it all better.

I sit here and laugh, as this can be a semi-normal occurrence at our home. I come home and she's just done. Between the older three (10,8,8) and the 15month old. It's a very chaotic household.

Date nights are far and few between, but always much appreciated. Finding a willing sitter for four children is an adventure in itself. We've been known to drop them off at 4 different locations for a dinner date of 2.5 hours.

Grtechguy wrote: I sit here and laugh, as this can be a semi-normal occurrence at our home. I come home and she's just done. Between the older three (10,8,8) and the 15month old. It's a very chaotic household. Date nights are far and few between, but always much appreciated. Finding a willing sitter for four children is an adventure in itself. We've been known to drop them off at 4 different locations for a dinner date of 2.5 hours.

Note to self: Get my parents to move to where we live, or find jobs where they live.

Yeah, mine live 1.5 hours away. So, it has to be planned.

Hell, we had one of those nights last night, and my wife works full time out of the house, and the child in question is about a month shy of 18.

Must have been the moon, we had one the other day as well. It's rare that I get home and she is on the verge of tears and just says "You take him". He's almost four but the second one is on the way.

I don't think a medal covers it. Being a stay at home mom can never be appreciated enough. When we figure out what to do for them, let me know, cause I'm in.

Also whatever you do, when she has had one of those days, even if junior or juniorette is an angel for you the rest of the night, don't tell her how easy it was. That does NOT go over well.

My daughters are now 23 and 19, and I can still calm them down better than my ex ever could. When they were little, I would have them for whatever period of time was involved- an evening, a weekend, whatever, and they would do what I asked, and wouldn't fight much...and within 3 minutes of her walking back into the house, there was howling, crying turmoil.

They knew they would get a reaction. Me, if there was no blood, I'd let them work it out. My youngest is carrying a pretty heavy course load in college, and she still needs me to calmly listen to her howl and cry and rage at the fates every now and then, and then she goes back to work.

I am a stay at home parent of (one) two year old. I cannot imagine more than one child. He wears me out, often. As money has been overly tight with us, no one gets a break to do..whatever. It gets old after a while.

Pseudonym wrote:

slefain wrote: Do they make campaign medals for stay-at-home Moms? You know, something I can pin on her diaper bag to let other moms know she's done her tours of service.

Not quite the same, but I believe what you are looking for is a babysitter Friday night, combined with some flowers, a dinner out, and a spa gift certificate for Saturday while you clean the house. Oh, earrings are nice too. Worked for my dad, works for me (minus the kids thing, that isn't in the picture), might work for you.

umm.......who's the babysitter for if you don't have kids?

Those days happen. I'd love to say they happen less, but its probably just that you get better at dealing with them. Her knowing that is was time to split is a good sign. You understanding that she needed to split is a great sign. There's nothing better for my job security like a good day of autocross. When I come back the kids have frazzled my wife and she's ready to go back to work.
BTW, am I the third stay at home dad to post on this thread? We need to form a club or something. At least a secret handshake.

I'm with Woody...it will either make her laugh hysterically or she will release some tension while beating you with anything she can find.

How about getting whoever makes the chumpcar trophies to make one for great moms?

my wife gave up, went back to work. she was great at it, but couldnt handle the stress of not talking to a human over the age of 1. we have boy/girl twins, and its tough sometimes even with us both there to do even simple things like make dinner. the big help is we uprooted our entire lives to live 12 minutes from her parents, so we get routine weekly breaks and date nights. i think she did the right thing going back to work, even of her new hire salary BARELY covers childcare and fuel expenses.

i just hope these little munchkins appreciate what we do for em... LOL

-J0N

unk577 wrote: I'm with Woody...it will either make her laugh hysterically or she will release some tension while beating you with anything she can find. How about getting whoever makes the chumpcar trophies to make one for great moms?

I have found that type of talk only makes her more mad. Much mad, so angry, wow. However that meme goes. In fact, at that point, my mere existence is grounds for execution. Then again, The tunawife gets awfully mad sometimes.