Today is a day for a bit of a clear out… taking down the Christmas decorations and doing the laundry, that sort of thing. In the process, I happened to glance at the Christmas card I got from Rob. He’s great at writing really meaningful cards. I usually am too… expect this year, I hadn’t even gotten around to writing his by the time we were ready to exchange presents. I do give myself credit for having bought it though. It was funny, too!
Anyway, while we are on the subject of giving credit, I feel he deserves some too. I’d be lying if I said we effortlessly found our feet as new parents. We did pretty good at the beginning but after about two or three months, the workload in his business started building just about the same time as sleepless nights began to get the better of me. So we’ve had our fair share of disagreements about who should be doing what, and how much of it. After all, the credit for one dirty nappy change only lasts so long. Or one emptying of the dishwasher. More credit for doing the shopping. Bonus points for soothing a crying baby back to sleep.
But then there seem to be endless deductions as well. For having an acute cooking phobia, for example. Or for suggesting that getting a cleaner in every six weeks is entirely sufficient. Biggest deduction of all for intimating that it is really my job to look after Lilly. Ok, the last one’s not funny. Not even months later. I think I made my point on that one.
All that being said, I am assuming it must not always be easy for the guys. Maybe some of them just breeze naturally into fatherhood but my guess is that it can be a bit of a rocky road for the best of them. Just like for us girls. It certainly seems that your intimate relationship stands a pretty good chance of taking a back seat to taking care of your little bundle of joy for a while.
And it takes a great husband to recognize that, and to make a conscious decision to put that relationship back on the agenda.
That’s what my Christmas card was all about. Best present I could have wished for. Thanks love!