Monday (Vacation) Vent

We just returned from our vacation, camping with our two young boys.  If anyone asks me how it was, I will, of course, tell them it was a lot of fun.  I would be lying through my teeth.  The truth is, I have not had a relaxing, fun vacation yet as a mother.  I think vacations with young children and husbands are only actually fun in retrospect.  In the moment, I am dealing with trying to appease all of them at the same time, which is rarely possible.  The only thing my husband wanted to do was fish.  The only thing my boys wanted to do was go to the pool.  Not that anyone was interested, but the only thing I really wanted was some peace and quiet and to read a good book and go for long walks.  As it turned out, the boys and I were in the pool every day for a few hours, made arts and crafts, and played at a park.  My husband fished every day for most of the day.  I guess it was a successful trip since they are all happy about it.  Now I want to go take a trip with my girlfriends!!!


S-)

When Hubby Helps, I Have to Keep Quiet

 I am thankful that my husband helps around the house. He does the dishes after dinner most nights. I then, of course, have to complete doing the dishes because there are things he won’t do (e.g. certain pots, the vegetable steamer, the blender, my salad spinner, etc.) The table may or may not be wiped. The dishwasher is sometimes turned on when there are only 3 glasses on one shelf. The dishwasher is sometimes not turned on when it is completely packed and there are no spoons or knives left in the drawer. I do not see any rhyme or reason to what is and is not done.

Why is it that my husband feels perfectly justified in criticizing (not critiquing, criticizing) things I do (e.g. “what made you think this recipe would taste good?”) yet when I offer one suggestion (“honey, when the dishwasher has room in it, don’t start it so I can put the breakfast dishes in tomorrow and start it in the morning”) he flies off the handle, saying “Oh, if you can do it better, then it’s up to you. I’m not going to deal with this.” (I thought we were talking about dishes, not something that needs to be “dealt” with). Why do I have to accept things being done incorrectly just for the sake of his ego? I am not a controlling person. I am glad that he is helping, but is having things done incorrectly( not differently, incorrectly) the price I have to pay? He is only too specific on how he wants things done and I don’t get all bent out of shape when he makes a simple request. What’s the deal? We’re talking household tasks, not personal characteristics, nothing to get upset about!

S-)