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My husband and I are poles apart. In the world of astrology, we’re each
others' opposite. But in my world, we’re just as similar as we are different. Though
our core beliefs are shared and ground us, we operate from two very different
places…and it shows. So depending on which way the winds blowing, our differing
ways are either a source of conflict or amusement. Add parenting to the mix and
OY VEY! We’re a side show. We both want the freedom to do things "our way" and in
an effort to avoid unnecessary criticism, scrutiny, or good old fashion nagging,
there’s are a lot of I didn’t hear that and I’m looking away now moments from both
of us.
So on Saturday when we crossed paths with a panicked mom frantically
searching for her lost child, my husband wasted no time informing me that I’d be dead
meat if I lost his Dylan, to which I said it’s bound to happen. Everyone loses
sight of their kids while shopping at some point, right? (Kids are crazy!) I
assured him that when the time comes, I’ll keep the story to myself. He was
cool with my proposal until I added that when HE loses Dylan, he better freaking
tell me. His response? “NO WAY!” I doubt he's capable of keeping such a
juicy experience to himself but it made me consider all of the things that I refuse forget
to tell my husband. Then I laughed to myself.
Like when I casually mention that I let Dylan sample my Reeses McFlurry, I leave out
specifics… like how much I gave him.
I’m not above bribing and if I have to walk two dogs with a kid in heels after
work, I’m going to make the process as painless as possible. But my secret
treat disbursement isn’t only exercised out of necessity. I bake from scratch and use
that as justification for giving Dylan a whole
cookie…or two. Dylan loves them, calls them “keekees,” and begs for them. A
sugar related parenting fail is too easy when it’s fueled by flattery. Why yes, I did whip those up, here you go! I mean, it's not like I'm throwing pop-tarts in his crib and closing the door.
And I don’t dare tell my husband the circus that ensues when I make dinner
because that’s when Dylan really abuses my indiscretions. If it were up to
Dylan, I wouldn’t spend a minute chopping vegetables or prepping meat.
Something about mom standing in the kitchen and doing her own thing brings out
the needy, evil toddler in him. He tugs on my legs, cries, hits cupboards, and
demands full attention. So if Dylan’s off banging sliding closet
doors, or pulling on the blinds in the living room when I'm cooking, I let it slide. My logic? The terror will cease once dinners done so let’s Nike through this bad boy and just do it
(as quickly as possible).
So FINE! My husband doesn’t want to tell me when if he loses sight of Dylan?
I can live with that. Clearly I have my own tidbits of intel that don’t make it
to the surface of our conversations. And it’s okay. No really, it’s okay. I came
clean last night and my husband shrugged as if the confessional were no big
deal. Which really just means that I can expect a series of creatively worded
questions aimed to exploit my inability to lie in the future. I just hope when
that day comes, we’re both in a I didn’t
hear that kind of mood.