You Trust Your Husband With The Kids?

Someone said to me the other day, "You trust your husband with the kids?"

Um, yes.

I think the more relevant question is, "Why, don't you trust your husband with your kids?"

Let me back track a minute here.

I had mentioned how much I was looking forward to Sunday.  Why?  I went to Glen Ivy Hot Springs in Corona.

Why was I looking forward to it?  I was gone from 7 am to 7pm.  AND I got a massage.  AND a facial.  AND a moisturizing treatment.  AND to lay by the pool without having to pace restlessly while I watched hawk eyed to prevent a drowning.  AND play in the mud.  AND eat lunch while it was still warm. AND read a book that didn't rhyme or have a dancing pig in it. 

IT WAS GLORIOUS. 

So I mentioned that I would be gone all day to a mom that I'm friendly with.

Her exact reaction?  "I'm so jealous!  Who is watching the kids?"

Me: "Oh, my husband." (You know.  Their FATHER.)

A look of concern crossed her face.  "All day?  By himself?!"

Me: "Yup."  (Is there another option?)

And that is when the "You trust your husband with your kids?" came out of her mouth.

And at that moment, a lot of thoughts went through my mind. 

I figured that she meant "But he can't do as good a job as you can!"  At least I hope that is what she meant.  Because if she meant that my husband can't take care of our kids, she and I are going to have a problem.

Here's the thing -- if I can watch the kids day in and day out by myself, why can't he?  If I can get them up, dressed, fed, to the park, home, entertained, and happy (mostly), without losing any, why can't he? 

Do I have to remind him of certain things -- nap times, snack times, what games are allowed, what are safe parks with a two year old who thinks she can fly, what is a good movie to watch for quiet time?  Yes. 

He doesn't do this every day like I do -- just like I would need help if I did his job for him one day.

Will he do as good a job as me?  Yes.

Will he do a different job than me?  Yes.

Will come home to toys scattered all over the place, to half of the children naked, to a mess in the kitchen, and to kids hopped up on sugar?  Yes.

Will the kids be happy and thrilled to spend the day with just Daddy?  Yes.

The kiddos need that.  They need their Daddy's laid back attitude toward parenting to balance my Pinterest inspired, crazy-lets-fill-every-minute attitude toward parenting.  They need to know that if the toys don't get picked up right away, or that the dishes might not be put in the dishwasher the right way, or that you have ice cream for a snack at 4 in the afternoon, the world will not end.  

As all of that was running through my head, I plastered a smile on my face and jokingly replied: "If I didn't, I wouldn't have had kids with him."