When I call home during my break at work, she’s resting her head on daddy’s lap while he rubs her back.  When I get home from work, the dishes are done and she’s helped him.  When I knock on her door in the morning, she asks if it’s “daddy?” at the door.  Some days, I feel like all that I’m good for is putting her down for her nap and dropping her off at the sitter’s house.

Truth of the matter is, my husband is good.  He’s real good.  I’ve never once had to worry about him caring for our daughter.  Since I’ve started my part-time/full-time job, he has seamlessly assumed the roll of “mom”.  They are buddies now, he tells ME now what she’s done all day (or night, rather) and that SHE will read certain parts of that book or that’s not the way THEY do it.  Our roles have changed and I suppose that’s taking a little getting used to on my part.

I am slightly old-fashioned, I suppose because I grew up in a household where my dad worked and my mom stayed home with us and had a meal on the table each night.  She was our “primary caretaker”.  I’m still getting used to the fact that I also have to pull some of the weight and earn to help us get by.  Unfortunately, to do that, I have to work alternate hours from my husband so we don’t have to pay for a baby sitter full-time.  When times are tough you do what you have to do to survive and just remember there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

So, when I’m home and I get to see their little “routine”, I do smile and genuinely feel happy and thankful that I have such a loving husband who makes a fantastic daddy to my little girl.  I really wouldn’t want it any other way.  After all, he is a better cook than me and looks quite fine in an apron.  Hey honey, what’s for supper tonight?

*One of my original Chicago Moms Blog posts