Mr. Mom ….Reflections of a Temporarily Single Dad

My wife went to Iowa for seven days and left me with seven children to care for.
I have learned the following lessons and wanted to blog them for posterity….
As much as it’s been a great week, with much accomplished, I still feel I have underestimated the love and value and work that is my wife’s on a regular basis….
Lessons learned include….

1. I will be home early or on time… if I am late, I will call
2. I will save my problems until after I have heard hers
3. I will bring flowers weekly
4. I will make sure mom gets time out, and time off
5. I will endeavor to simply remember the relentlessness of the ongoing task of motherhood
6. I will keep the kids clear on the division of labor and responsibilities they have
7. We’ll write a schedule and keep it
8. I will manage my end of the day anger… I will warn those around me when I am on edge
9. I will make sure my wife has sufficient cash funds
10. We will talk about upcoming events, ride shares, schedules, chores, etc., on a daily basis
11. I will enforce my agenda, ideas for improvement, and minor tweaks in our family schedule, and protocol… and not leave it all to my wife, as she has much on her plate already.

I hope I caught most of the lessons I needed to learn this week.
I’m sure there are others and in the evolution of being a family they will come up.
In the meantime, my wife cannot get home soon enough.
Joni come home…. soon!