Early Sunday morning
Up at 5a this morning, but that's what happens when you fall asleep at 8p !! Such a productive day yesterday!! The house could pass military inspection and this was an observation made by my husband who is Navy!! Too funny!
The best part of the day was when my oldest stepson (and granddaughter) came over. Husband had apparently told son that I would babysit for the day. Normally this would piss me off (and give me an excuse to drink) given that I had told my husband of my plans for the day. You can't do heavy cleaning and put Christmas decorations back in the attic with a 20 month old running around unsupervised! Instead of getting angry or abandoning my plans, when my stepson left and my husband said he was heading back out to the garage to "play around" with his old truck, I just calmly and politely reminded him that he had volunteered to babysit and I had plans so the baby was his for the day. Mind you, I have asked on multiple occasions that he not volunteer me for things without asking me first. Long story short, he spent the next four hours with his granddaughter!! That's the longest time he has spent with her alone since her birth! The extra added bonus is that while he was exhausted afterwards, they had a great time and he is an awesome granddad!!
Me stepping away not only allowed me to accomplish my goals, but allowed him to realize that he CAN take care of the baby by himself (minus one diaper change that I handled) and allowed him to build a relationship with his grandchild. I am starting to realize that by taking everyone else's monkey, I am depriving them of the lessons that monkey can teach them and of the success they feel when they take care of their own monkey !!
Another great day and another excuse for drinking prevented. Feeling powerful this morning!!
The best part of the day was when my oldest stepson (and granddaughter) came over. Husband had apparently told son that I would babysit for the day. Normally this would piss me off (and give me an excuse to drink) given that I had told my husband of my plans for the day. You can't do heavy cleaning and put Christmas decorations back in the attic with a 20 month old running around unsupervised! Instead of getting angry or abandoning my plans, when my stepson left and my husband said he was heading back out to the garage to "play around" with his old truck, I just calmly and politely reminded him that he had volunteered to babysit and I had plans so the baby was his for the day. Mind you, I have asked on multiple occasions that he not volunteer me for things without asking me first. Long story short, he spent the next four hours with his granddaughter!! That's the longest time he has spent with her alone since her birth! The extra added bonus is that while he was exhausted afterwards, they had a great time and he is an awesome granddad!!
Me stepping away not only allowed me to accomplish my goals, but allowed him to realize that he CAN take care of the baby by himself (minus one diaper change that I handled) and allowed him to build a relationship with his grandchild. I am starting to realize that by taking everyone else's monkey, I am depriving them of the lessons that monkey can teach them and of the success they feel when they take care of their own monkey !!
Another great day and another excuse for drinking prevented. Feeling powerful this morning!!
Replies
Wow, that is great news how you handled that! I am similarly having to be diplomatically assertive with my old man. I\'ve been away most of the week. When we met up on Friday he told me how much he had missed me and then I learned why that was - he had missed me cooking dinner for him. He seems to lose the use of his hands and legs when I\'m around. Grrr....
Oh my God...that is so funny!! I have to remind my husband that I am not his mother nor his maid sometimes!!