momAgenda Blog
Who Wins the Fun Contest in Your House?
March 11, 2010 12:37 PM
My friend Heidi, aka Mamagirl Melly of the fabulously original blog, wrote an interesting post yesterday in which she mentioned her boys' preference for spending time with their dad, Jack. It seems that Jack is "more fun" -- because he plays sports with them for hours. Which is fantastic, and Jack is my friend and I love him and he is a great dad... and yet it illustrates this interesting dynamic that goes on in many families, in which the dad gets way more credit for being fun than the mom.
My kids say the same thing as Heidi's and it drives me insane. Although Larry rarely makes a weeknight appearance (other than the occasional bedtime peck), my kids think he is the FUNNEST DAD EVER. Because on the weekends, when he is home, he plays sports with them. And he lets them watch tv and video games as much as they want. And he lets them eat Nutella right out of the jar.
I don't even need to tell you the contortions I (and, I am sure, you) go through on a day-to-day basis, making the kids' lives better through school, play dates, sports, enrichment activities, books, healthy meals, etc., all while balancing a full-time career. Apparently there are no fun credits awarded for chauffeuring your kids around town or making them dinner or helping them with homework, or else I would be winning this contest hands down. And yes, it is a competition, and I really want to win. (Larry always says I am way too competitive, and perhaps he is right, but that is a separate blog post.)
How about you? Do your kids think your partner is more fun? Does it drive you as crazy as it drives me? Should I just let it go and let him win this one?
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Comments (2)
My children feel the same way. I've given up trying to win that contest. I know that if I stopped doing everything I know I should be doing in favor of play and eating Nutella out of the jar, I'd feel like I failed. My efforts in healthy eating, tv moderation, etc give my husband the freedom to be the fun one. They can eat the junk food because I've seen to it that they eat well most of the time. We're a team and I'm the hammer. That's just how it is.
Posted by: blissmamaof3 - March 12, 2010 10:25 AM
My husband is the exact same way!
Let him win. You are winning in other ways.
My kids think my hubby is the most fun EVER. But just this week, I found a valentine in my son's backpack that he had forgotten to give us. It was a book that listed things he "loved". He listed 1. take me to sports, 2. bake cookies with me 3. let me stay up late on the weekends 4. help me take care of my kitty, etc.
These were all MOM activities, there were some dad one's too, but most were mom activities. WOOT!
Even though it doesn't seem like it, your kids do notice We know they lack the vocabulary to verbilize their undying gratitude :)
Posted by: Jen@925frugal - March 12, 2010 11:27 AM
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