I feel sorry for men in a way. Yes, they get to use their talents and improve themselves in the work force, but they are away from the reason they have to go to work. They don't get quantity time with their kids that turns into quality time. You cannot expect every moment with your kids to be quality time, but the amount of quality time is a function of the quantity of time. Usually by the time Big T gets home we discover all the food thefts that have occurred after school and it irritates him to death. Then the baby wants to be held and is fussy if he isn't held by his daddy. How do you keep your kids from food theft after school? I let them have a snack, but they still steal. Grrrr. I want a happy husband so that his time with the kids can turn into quality time, but if he is frustrated it will not happen. How do you make sure your home is ready for a good homecoming (other than neatness, of course, that one is obvious)?
My day is fine until the swing stops working for him. So, I am grateful for baby entertainment and animated movies for little boys. They make my time alone with them heavenly.
honestly - I gave up on the food thing... the oldest two are starving when they come home... so they usually make a few grilled cheese sandwiche/bag of popcorn/bowl of cereal... they still eat dinner. the younger ones get home a little later and I try to keep their snacking to something that is quick and easy (especially since for this one I am required to help)
ReplyDeleteand a happy home only happens when I can relax and enjoy the kids... it's when I stress out over it being immaculate and the food being ready right on time for M.O.T.H.'s arrival that everything goes to pot...
The most helpful thing for Derek's homecoming we discovered through Derek himself. He always gets home around dinner time and, face it, this is just one of the stressful times of day. Everyone is home and so the house isn't quite as neat and everyone is hungry too (a recipe for crankiness over here). So he started asking us the best thing that happened that day. Now we try not to bombard him with any negatives when he gets home -- only the good things. We can tell him the bad things after he's had some time to relax, but usually by then the bad things don't seem so important. As for food -- you could try telling your kids that you do not want them to be hungry and to just ask you and you will come up with something they can have to tide them over until dinner. It MIGHT work. Some snacks I just hide up high in my closet because if they are in the pantry or the storage room they disappear.
ReplyDeleteCan Big T just get his own food stash hidden somewhere? Poor guy...I wouldn't do well with food theft either. My kids have been SO hungry lately! Isabelle must be going through a growth spurt. I let them have toast, fruit is limitless, along with veggies (ha) but they do eat carrots and ranch if I leave them out to snack on. Same with apple slices. Yogurt is a great filler. Let us know how things go!
ReplyDeleteI think there have been a few times here where Hub has walked in on such fun times he's wanted to turn around and go back to work.
ReplyDeleteAnd Ike cannot stay away from the kitchen. So yeah, I have to hide all good food and not replenish 'his' snacks when I feel he's gone through them too quickly. Everyone else adheres to my 'kitchen is closed' call but him.
I feel bad too that poor dads are home for the most ornery times of the day. My kids are always happiest around 10 am. Maybe we should just set the video camera up during those times to convince the dad that baby doesn't always cry....