wiredmonkey.net

Today starts my last week at my current job…but who’s counting? I’ll then have a full week off before I start my new job. To say I’ve been a little distracted over the last month is a huge understatement. Just about every major life changed happened to us at once, but now that the dust is clearing a bit, I feel like I am breathing again.
There’s a good reason people give two weeks notice and move on with their lives. I gave them six weeks. That was probably five weeks and three days longer than my head could handle.
I’m looking forward to this next chapter in our lives… it seems that we have been trying to turn this page for awhile. There’s lots to be learned and more changes headed our way and all I can say is that I am so ready for it all.

A lot has happened this past week. I’ve been staying up late nights working on a little side project which has consumed me, (more to come soon) and I was offered a new job.

As my Chinese food had informed me, this is a huge and important decision to make. I’ve been with the same company for seven years now and deep down I really love it. There are days (like today) when the stress and pressure don’t help, but on the whole it’s great. I like the challenge, the pressure and having something to accomplish on a daily basis.

Without getting too much into it yet, (as none of my coworkers know yet, or most of my family for that matter) I’ll know much more soon. I have a lot to sort out, and also the owner of the company to break the news to. That happens in about 30 minutes, when we head out to lunch together.

Wish me luck! (And I’ll post as I know more…)

“The reason that Dads shouldn’t whine is because whether you’re a dad or not a dad, your life stays basically the same. It’s just a matter of increased responsibility. But once a woman has a baby, she’s a mom, and the world demands a lot from moms. ” – Neil Pollack

Ok… I get it. I’m sad to say it has taken me eight years of marriage to really get it, but I think I finally do. The wife and I have had the same argument for eight years now.. you know, I work so hard and I do this and you don’t do this… I deserve a break because I’ve “worked” fifty hours this week. After so many of the same arguments, I see that I’ve been really whiny about this part of our relationship. And arrogant.

The wife usually raves about me because I do this amount of housework and take care of the kids this amount of time. I’ve let that get in my head. I think I do so much, but really, it doesn’t come close to what she has done and continues to do on a daily basis. I realize that if I were to go tit for tat… I’ll have nothing to stand on. That thought alone is pretty sobering.

Don’t get me wrong… I’m not going to beat myself up. I think I’m a pretty good dad and partner. A pretty damm good one actually. But I don’t want to be a whiner. When I read the above statement, It dawned on me that I really have no clue into the amount of work that moms do. And here I thought because I work full time and do some dishes every now and then that I should have some special exemption or something.

So we had the same argument a couple of days ago, not really because the wife wanted to, but because I pressed the issue. I’m not one for confrontation, but I felt like I had worked hard this week, I’d been watching the kids, I did the laundry… Man, did she clean my clock, and deservedly so. It finally dawned on me when she gently reminded me that it has been her that has done all of this for the past seven years, and although my recent contributions are very much welcome, she has been carrying the load for quite awhile. That’s when it hit me and that stupid smile of recognition came across my face. I get it now. I think I really do.