TheMommyBlog

Thursday, March 04, 2004 Familybits

All I need are loafers and a tie. I am a 60’s Dad.

I came home at 6:30 tonight, just in time to see my family eating a sit-down, homemade dinner together, laughing and talking about the day, and showing off artwork from school.

I set down my bag, shouted hello to everyone, took off my coat, kissed the children, and ruffled my husband’s hair. I even uttered the words, “What smells so good?” Turning to the countertop, I fished out a wineglass and reached for the Zin, needing to unwind after a long day at the office.

Whoa. Fred MacMurray is back.

The children all clamored to climb into my lap, tell me about school, and show me their pictures. Gil coaxed them gently to come back to the table and finish their dinners. They didn’t. He got up with a sigh and began to clear the dishes.  Whoa, whoa, whoa. I’ve seen this before, but I think it was in black and white.

“Hon, would you like to get out for a while? I’ll clean up and bathe the kids.”

“You know… yes.” [sound of whistling wind and screeching tires]

I changed into pj’s, went back into the kitchen, and turned my attention to the dirty dishes and the leftover homemade chili (when did that happen? He can cook!) I eyeballed the cooking pot and fished out a tupperware container (or at least I did after ten minutes of fruitless searching, because I have no idea where anything is anymore) and proceeded to ladle in the chili. It was going to be close. Too close. And darn it if I’m not thinking like a guy at this point. “Plastic gives, right? I bet if I fill it to just overflowing and then seal it really well, it will all stay in with the vacuum seal.” Splooooosh. Chili all over my striped jammies, all over the counter, all over the sink. I am such a clueless 60’s Dad.