Welp. Work started this last Thursday. Seriously, if I did not LOVE teaching so very much, I wouldn't/couldn't go back to work. It is so nice to have a career in something you are passionate about. But let's be honest with each other. I would MUCH rather be home with Porter. However, Trent is taking on the roll of Mr. Mom. After this week, I have more faith in him.
I decided that we should probably do some trial runs before Thursday. So I told Trent I would be in my classroom all day Tuesday and Wednesday so we could "practice." I know it probably sounded ridiculous to him, but he humored me. By 1:00 on Tuesday, Trent was calling me asking me to come home. I seriously fled my classroom and was home by the time he could hang up the phone. I came in and the house was perfectly clean and spotless. But I had an exhausted husband and a grumpy Porter. He had fed Porter like every hour, instead of his usual ever 3 hours. So Porter had about 6-8 ounces in a one hour time instead of the normal 3.5. Yeah. That made him grumpy for awhile. His stomach hurt and he was constantly spitting up. I told Trent to go take a nap. He was asleep for almost three hours. He woke up and came inside our living room. We talked about how fantastic it was that he cleaned the house but he needs to make sure that his needs come first. We also talked about routines and how they are important and all that lovely stuff.
The next day went waaaaay better. Trent wrote down each time Porter ate and took a nap. He waited 2-3 hours between each feeding and did play time between naps. I came home the mood was completely different.
It was the next evening that made me appreciate Trent even more that I already do {if that's humanly possible.} It had been yet another successful day {Go, Trent!} and we were talking about how I had just found my new, favorite deodorant. He turned to me and said, "Wow, I don't think I have worn deodorant in three days, and I think I have only showered once! Now, I understand why woman talk about routines, and not having time to shower or for themselves. It's really hard." I just smiled and nodded my head. From an outsiders perspective, it seems simple. But raising a family is a huge feat.
I also learned something this week. Coming home to a happy home is the most lovely thing. I. Am. EXHAUSTED after work. And even though I loved loved loved coming home to a clean house, I had an unhappy family and it just added to the stress. I would rather come home to a happy baby on the floor playing with Daddy and dishes in the sink. I would rather have Kraft Mac and Cheese for dinner and a huge loving welcome than a gourmet meal and long to-do list. Now, a clean house is still important. But if for three days the dishes sit on the counter, the Thompson's are still going to make it.
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