Most of the time, the hustle and bustle to get out the door is up to me. A two-year-old isn’t usually much help — unless you consider it helpful to unpack bags, spill goldfish on the floor, or whine because no you can’t play with the scissors.
As a mom who mostly works from home and a husband who works a minimum of 50 hours a week, there are many times it’s just me and the toddler trying to get whatever we need to the car on time. Even if Dad’s going with us, we’re often leaving right when he walks in the door so it still leaves me with all the packing, organizing, and gathering of random crap.
This morning was different. We had a family packing sesh so we could spend a night at my in-laws’ lake house. And as every mom knows, there’s too much crap to pack. But today, Dad was home and it hit me how much easier it is when he’s around. Not in a this is twice as easy because there’s another adult around kind of way. Because that makes sense mathematically. Two adults make the packing and loading process twice as simple.
But this is about so much more than math. It’s simpler because if I forget something, he remembers it. If I’m in the middle of something and need an additional hand, he can come running. While I’m packing in the bedroom, he’s already gathering food in the kitchen.
It’s about celebrating the fact that we’re a team.
Too many times, that team looks like phone calls on the way to work or texts during the day. So when we actually get to be a team together, it’s a chance to enjoy the little things in life. I love having him around. Not just because it’s easier but because it’s a reminder that he’s my better half. The annoying task of packing is more fun with him cracking jokes. I don’t mind letting him carry that stupid Pack ‘n Play, either. It’s preparing for a family adventure as a family.
It made me stop and think about how important it is to celebrate teamwork in marriage. Teamwork has so many different facets and changes with the seasons — it’s easy to go through the motions of being a teammate. But celebrating that teamwork can make it feel fresh and worthwhile.
So to all the dads out there, next time you feel like you’re only wanted because you make an exhausting task less exhausting… well, you’re only half right. 😉
