Husbands are adorable, aren’t they? It’s in the way they can love their families so much that anything that takes them away is cause for great suffering. Doo is a perfect example.
See, his work requires him to travel periodically for three to four nights at a time. Over summer vacation, his absence is noticeable, definitely, but certainly tolerable. I’m still single-parenting four children, but I don’t have to worry about school activities, homework or making sure my kids shower. But when business trips happen during the school year, life gets dicey.
Like last week. Doo was gone Sunday through Thursday, and as cruel fate would have it, so were my in-laws. Of course the kids had events scheduled every night. So in addition to working full days myself and doing basic mom stuff, I had to attend two meet-the-teacher events and a cross country meeting, carpool kids to and from soccer and running practices, and coordinate who would be getting my 8 year old on and off the bus each day since her older siblings are now on the middle school schedule. Suffice it to say, I was exhausted physically and mentally by the time Doo returned.
But here’s what’s sweet. He honest-to-goodness thinks his week was harder; that sleeping in a hotel room and having to eat alone in a restaurant is far worse than being a single parent. That being responsible for only one person, himself, is more taxing than making sure four short people are clothed and fed and mostly clean 24/7. His week was miserable not because of conference calls and data reports but because he wasn’t home with us. Isn’t that precious?
Me? I could never miss my family that much. I would literally sacrifice our cat to have four nights of uninterrupted sleep in a bed that someone else has made. I’d throw in the creepy anoles to enjoy just one quiet dinner, no dishes attached, with only a good book for company. Call me a glutton for punishment, but I’d even donate my first-born son for six hours of driving, each way, when I can stop whenever and wherever I please while listening to whatever songs I fancy.
Doo doesn’t get it, as I suspect few men do, and, consequently, is unable to validate my anxiety, exhaustion and jealousy while he’s away. I just come off as a selfish woman who can’t appreciate her husband’s sacrifices. In reality, though, I simply long for a break from routine, and if that means sampling faux-crab salad at Bennigan’s with Nora Roberts’ latest, so be it. I’ll leave the adorable bit to Doo. Peace out.