I live with a lot of humans who are of the opposite gender than me. Which also means that I spend a good majority of my time doing things that are, what I like to call, “boy things”.
I always tell my husband that he is living the good life because I can just imagine if we had all girls… and he had to spend his weeknights running from ballet practice to gymnastics? He might not survive.
My Days
99.9% of the time our television is either on Major Leagues Baseball, the NFL ticket or some kids cartoon show that involves saving the world or shooting bad guys.
I spend my evenings at soccer practice, t-ball games and basketball gyms.
My Saturdays consists of hiking, playing dodgeball and dressing up like Spiderman.
It’s rare that we get a “leisure” day to do something spontaneous and not planned. But when we do? Rest assured that it’s definitely going to be a 4 to 1 vote. And guess who’s not winning that vote?
<<raises hand>>
Which means we typically end up doing an activity that all the boys are stoked about. I can promise you it never involves shopping, getting a manicure or seeing a musical.
The Compromise
My husband finally realized that I was about to lose my mind. Not because I don’t love my kids, not because I don’t love family outings or occasionally going to a professional baseball game.
But because these boys never had to compromise what they wanted to do so that we could do something I wanted.
Luckily, I was able to communicate to my husband that I was in desperate need for them to pick a leisure activity that I would like. It didn’t have to be shopping or pedicures, but don’t make me trek the woods every other Saturday.
Can I get an amen ladies?
Choosing Wisely
In this episode we talk about the importance of doing things together and choosing to do things that your spouse enjoys (even when you don’t want to).
Some days I do things that he wants to do WITH the knowledge that next time I want to do something (and he doesn’t)… he will selflessly say yes.
Have you ever made a list of things you like to do and then shared it with your spouse? Try it!
I get it. Even though I am not a boy mom, I still have a husband who only wants to camp, fish, hike, or paddle a boat. I do enjoy these things occasionally but not always. Then when I decide to do something with my daughter, namely things he doesn’t enjoy, he gets upset and says I just don’t want to spend time with him. Newsflash! I am not the female version of you buddy!
I seriously don’t know what I’m going to do when she moves out in a year.