I’ve noticed that Tommy helps me out more and more with the children these days. I fully realized that this last week when he was gone from Monday to Thursday night. (Refer to this post where I was sure my life sucked)
Taking care of four kids requires more than one person. Trust me. Unless you’re specifically looking for a way to die young, do not attempt to do this alone.
But his helping me hasn’t always been this way. A few years ago when Ethan was much younger and still in diapers and still difficult to navigate around, the scene was much different.
Like this one time for instance.
It was a Saturday and I asked Tommy to watch the children so I could go on a quick shopping trip to buy a wedding present. The store I was going to is a quaint little place with lots of expensive, breakable things. It’s NOT a place you take small children. Unless you’d like to buy a bunch of shit your kids just broke.
I also know that it’s almost impossible to get cell phone reception there.
So I looked up the number of the shop, wrote it on a Post-It note and left it next to the phone. You know, in case of an emergency.
I said goodbye, and went about my merry way. I remember looking forward to having an hour to myself.
I parked in the lot of Cute Gift Shop and went inside. There were beautiful platters, canister sets, picture frames, candles…well, you get it.
I browsed through the many aisles, taking my time and really considering the couple I was buying for.
Just as I was deciding between a pasta bowl and a 10-piece pewter serving set, a woman in her mid 50′s approached me. I was ready to tell her I didn’t need assistance when she said, “Are you Shauna Glenn by chance?”
Stunned by this I took a step back and said, “Yes. Um, I’m Shauna Glenn.”
She seemed relieved. “Oh good.” And then she rested her hand on my shoulder. “There’s a man on the phone for you. He said he’s babysitting?”
Babysitting?
Who was she talking about? Tommy?
He referred to himself as the babysitter? Like, I’m babysitting therefore I am the babysitter?
I put the bowl down and followed her to the front counter.
She handed me the cordless phone and I put the receiver to my ear. “Hello?”
“Hey Shauna.” (Screams could be heard in the background)
“Is everything OK?” I was ready to jump in the car and haul ass home.
“Yeah. Sorry to call. But Harley wants 2 pudding cups and I told her ‘no’ but she said you let her do that. Is that all right?”
Was he serious?
“Um, yeah, that’s fine with me.”
“OK. And… where do we keep the diapers?”
Oy vey.
I noticed the woman who worked in the shop was standing 3 feet from me, arms folded across her chest, and by the look on her face, she was somewhat concerned.
I finished my conversation with Tommy and handed back the phone.
I no longer remembered why I was there.
Oh right–wedding gift.
The woman nodded her head and asked, “Everything OK with your babysitter?”
I laughed and said, “Yes. But we don’t call him ‘The Babysitter’ as much as we call him ‘The Dad.’”
It was silent for a second and then she snorted and covered her mouth.
And then we spent the next 10 minutes laughing our asses off.
Oh, and I bought the pewter serving set.
Note to husbands: When we ask you to watch your children, it’s not considered babysitting. You’re the DAD. You might wanna write this down.
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