I’m always surprised when David makes an off-handed comment like; “how could you forget that at the grocery store,” or “can you take the van to the dealership and wait for 2 hours while they fix it?” My response to these things is always something along the lines of “I have 2 kids under the age of five….” After that I feel everything else is excused. As a result I would like to put out there a challenge – an obstacle course – a test of wills. Husbands welcome to YOUR Olympics.
Grocery Store Sprint
You are required to take more than one child with you to the grocery store. You must go at a time that is at least 1 hour within either nap time or lunch time. You will have to purchase more than 20 items. These items must feed a family of four for an entire week and not cost more than the allotted budget for your family. You have an hour. The challenge – don’t forget anything, don’t over spend, don’t buy the kids a junky snack in order to keep them quiet.
The Errand Obstacle Course
You are required to take more than one child with you and accomplish more than 3 errands. Each errand must require you to take the children out of the car and actually enter the establishment. None of these errands can be “kid-focused” (for instance, no going to the library or toy store) and at least one stop must require you to wait in a line for more than 5 minutes. Again, no buying junk food to keep them quiet or the promise of a pony if they are good.
The Phone Call Balance
You are required to call and schedule 3 separate doctors appointment. These appointments must not conflict with meal time, nap time, school time, church time, or other people’s schedules. You must also do this while all children are awake and in the same room with you.
The Car Repair Endurance
Take your vehicle to the dealership or other car repair location. This must be a repair that requires you to leave your vehicle (no drive-thru oil change). You must sit and wait, with the children inside the sometimes dirty, always boring, and germ-infested sitting area while your car is fixed. The repair must take longer 20 minutes. (extra points if one of the children is still in diapers)
Okay guys, the gauntlet has been tossed. You can either step-up to the plate or just admit defeat and secede the gold medal to the true winner in this battle — your wife.
Is that a My Little Pony or a real pony that can’t be promised?
I’m always surprised when my husband is surprised how hard it is to do one small thing with the girls, especially if he only has one or two of them, instead of all three.
This is great and not many men would succeed, if any! 🙂
I believe this is where the feminist movement got started in the first place…men never respected what women do. That patronizing tone, the pat on the head, hand, shoulder, etc. doesn’t cut it. I certainly understand it after going through it myself. I feel your frustration.