What do you do all day?

Hooray, hooray he's back at work today! Hubby's three weeks holiday have finally come to an end and this morning he trotted off to work with the usual unhappy face that accompanies such a task. Don't get me wrong, I am not pleased that he is feeling miserable about going to work, I am thrilled however, to have my own space back and be able to get back into my own routine. It was interesting watching the transition he made over the three week period with regards to his understanding of what the day of a full time parent entails...

To begin with, Mat was all smiles and full of happiness at how delightful his children seemed to be. As far as he was concerned, the sun shone out their backsides, particularly Elliott's, and they could do no wrong. I would often vent to him about the frustrating things his darling children had done throughout the day and he would answer with "No, you must be making that up. Look at them". Of course, the minute Mat was home, the kids would put on the charm and be utterly delightful so he really didn't get to see the mischief they were getting into. 

About two weeks later however, his tune changed. He was the one venting to me and throwing his hands up in exasperation about the kids rat-bag behaviour. He was shouting at them for throwing water out of the bath, he was the one snapping at their endless whinging and demands and he was the one exhausted at the idea of having to play yet another game of trains or babies. The best part was, he spent a relatively small amount of time with them each day so in my eyes, he had little to complain about. It did however allow him the opportunity to have some insight into why our household runs the way it does. Let's take a look at this transition in pictures:    

How Mat thought I should greet him every day when he got home from work...

How the greeting actually looks...

How Mat thought dinner was made...

How dinner actually comes together...

What Mat thought I did all day...

What I actually do all day...

What he thinks it is like doing art with the kids...

What it is actually like doing art with the kids... 

What he thinks a lovely day grocery shopping is like...

What grocery shopping with kids actually looks like...

How he thinks a playroom looks all the time...

How playrooms actually loo 99.9% of the time... 

You get my point. His rosy view of parenthood is shattered. He used to say that he would happily stay home with the kids if I went back to work, but last night he confessed that he can't wait to be out of the house and back at work today. See you tonight, Darling, with screaming kids hanging off me, tired eyes hanging out of my head, dishes unwashed, eggs on toast for dinner and a maze of toys to work your way through as soon as you walk in the door. Parenthood rocks!