I wrote last week about some Dad stuff. Specifically new father things.
Since then, I have heard, on the ‘grapevine’, that a Mum from the school playground has accused me of not doing anything.
To put it into context, five days after our new baby was born, our eldest really wanted his Mummy to take him to to beavers. Our middle child also put his shoes on and insisted he was going. So I stayed at home, looking after the newborn whilst my wife drove the 3 minute journey to the beavers hut. When they got there, the middle child refused to walk so she lifted him onto her hip, walked the twenty yards from the car, round the corner to the hut, dropped off the eldest and then walked back to the car and strapped middle child back in before driving home again.
Whilst this was happening, the mother from the playground was also dropping her son off and after seeing my wife, decided it would be a good idea to gossip to a mutual friend, about me not doing anything. “Doesn’t her husband do anything with those kids?” I believe were the words used.
Little did she know that my wife wanted to spend those precious few minutes with our eldest two, by themselves, so there would be an element of normality for them with their Mummy, without a baby feeding from her. Little does she know the meals I’ve prepared, the washing I’ve done, the looking after the kids & so much more so my wife can feed our newborn, to support her in that. I’d like to think of myself as a supportive husband but it’s often behind closed doors where dads just crack on and offer that support. Surely she must have seen me on the school run? I do it most mornings and I probably half the afternoon pick ups as I enjoy it and I have the flexibility in my work to do just that. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her husband on a school run but that’s beside the point. I’d never judge anyone’s lifestyle, parental arrangement or how they bring up their kids.
The morale of the story. Think before you open your mouth.
