The Move: Day 6

One thing we didn't account for during this move is that while visiting friends, the husbands are usually working. So, for much of the day today, it was me and the moms hanging out. Of course, they were all talking with my wife, so I talked more with the kids. That's okay. That's more my level anyway. In addition, as we are starting to get more tired and unregulated in our sleeping, I am sometimes more impatient with the kids, even when I don't need to be. For example, my daughter keeps scratching her ouchies and making herself bleed. I've been getting very frustrated with that until tonight when I did the same thing.

I think after six days, I can safely recount some of the duties of a corporate dad during a cross-country move by car. Although, as I've said in previous posts, I attempt to enforce the same sense of order I have at the office in my home, I've assumed a much less corporate and much more domestic role. I am gradually relinquishing my demand for order and learning to deal with chaos. However, because I have to attempt to manage the chaos as much as possible, the following responsibilities have been relegated to me on this trip:

-kitchen cleaner at friends'/family's homes
-lunch-maker in the car
-child-entertainer in the car
-bed preparer at others' homes
-car loader/unloader
-babysitter when my wife is with her friends
-story teller when tucking the kids into bed
-ice/gas purchaser, errand runner

Basically, I am the good little soldier in charge of setting up/taking down camp and KP duty. This arrangement has resulted in a variety of benefits. My wife sees that I'm working hard, so she doesn't make me change the diapers. She does not get frustrated with my ineptitude at grocery shopping because she can do it herself without kids in tow. There are no last-minute arrangements delaying arrival/departure/bed times. Most importantly, my wife's administrative load is lightened so that our time with each other, the kids, and family and friends is of much higher quality than it might otherwise be.