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SALT LAKE CITY — Recently, my 8-month-old baby and I had an early morning wake-up call. With six double-ear infections to his resumé in as many months, he was scheduled to have tubes put in his ears.
Not planning particularly well for this endeavor, my husband and I discussed the night before how we would manage the morning. And having just received a phone call telling me that there were to be no other children with me, the responsibility of the morning rush was officially handed over to my husband.
As I went to bed, I was more apprehensive for my husband needing to get five kids ready in the morning than I was for the actual surgery. After all, he would have to get them all up, feed them and make sure they had matching clothes. Oh, and hair: he would need to beautify two little girls, with one 8-year-old who is particularly picky and a 4-year-old who cries every time she sees a comb.
Not only would this need to be done, but it would all need to happen before 7:45 a.m. in order to get the three older kids to school and himself to work. Furthermore, because we didn’t schedule a baby sitter, he would need to bring our 4- and 5-year-old to his first two class periods, and I would pick them up on the way back through.
The plan seemed like it would work out, but I had little faith that it would happen the way it should — and for good reason. I am the one who takes care of the morning routine; he doesn’t.
He may act like he can’t do it, but he is fully capable; you just need to give him the chance to show you his stuff.
I didn’t let him know of my doubts, but they were absolutely at the forefront of my mind as I sat awaiting my baby to be brought to me after the procedure.
As I drove home, I had visions of my 4- and 5-year-old in mismatched clothes, hair all knotted up with milk mustaches to boot. I worried the the kids would act up, and I was bracing myself for a frazzled husband who would never let me leave the house with fewer than three children ever again.
But as I turned into the parking lot, I was shocked at what I saw. It was almost as if it was all happening in slow motion. There he was, my knight in shining armor … well, more like hunk in Adidas apparel (all the same). But what was more astonishing were the two clean and very happy little kids at his side.
There were no knots in either of their hair. In fact, I don’t think I have ever seen my 4-year-old daughter’s hair so nice and flowing. They were both in clothes that matched, and were each holding a handful of pictures they had been drawing for me.
But it didn’t end there. As I opened the door to my house, it was clean … like, really clean.
How I ever doubted him, I don’t know. Why I ever doubted him, I don’t know. Furthermore, I will never doubt him again.
So, you moms, don’t doubt your husband and his ability to not only hold down the fort, but to go above and beyond. He may act like he can’t do it, but he is fully capable; you just need to give him the chance to show you his stuff.
Arianne Brown is a mother of six who loves running the beautiful trails around Utah. For more articles by Arianne, "like" her Facebook page, follow her on Twitter @arimom5, or visit her blog, timetofititin.com. If you have a story to share, contact her at ariannebrown1@gmail.com.
