Wednesday, March 30, 2011

I Really Have Disappeared




When Jed and I were in high school, I'd join a club or class and feel pretty successful, until the next semester, when Jed would join the same club or class. He'd add the class, as if he thought he might as well give this new thing a try, then he'd out-perform me every time. I joined choir. Jed did too. Pretty soon he was the handsome tenor with the main parts in the musicals . I joined journalism. Then Jed became the funny writer that used vocabulary I didn't understand. I ran for Student body secretary. Then Jed ran for (and ended up claiming) the office just ahead of mine, Student body VP (although to be clear, he didn't do anything during the year--he just looked good as VP). He even used to call me when he didn't get his reading done for English, I'd summarize the chapter for him, and the next day he'd do better on the quiz than I would.

I started a new job. I will ultimately work from home, but have had 5 weeks (and one to go!) of brutal training in Salt Lake City. Jed has taken over the house and kids while I've been gone. I was nervous to leave him with so much responsibility along with his regular work. After all, it's hard work to be a mom and keep up the house at the same time! I shouldn't have been surprised, but I still can't really help it, but when I stumble home in the early light of the morning, the house is super tidy, the kids went to bed without a fuss and the laundry is folded. Don't misunderstand me, I am absolutely grateful--just a little baffled. He has even learned to fix Hazel's hair, and is considering writing a "how-to" manual for dads left alone to fix their daughters' hair. He has a system down for laundry and dishes, and will redo them if you do it in a different way. And today, I came home and he'd convinced Julian to wear undies.

I don't know, the man seems to be able to do some pretty awesome things. But I still totally rule at Super Mario Brothers for the first NES. There is pretty much no comparison there.

17 comments:

jed said...

this is all a pile of lies. a pile of sweet, sweet lies.

Anita Wells said...

a little disheartening, isn't it? his brother has the same ability. but jayne, you beat him hands down at this pregnancy thing!

Zach and Codi said...

THANK YOU!! It's so nice to hear that someone goes through the same thing I do. It seems like what takes me a few hours to clean one room, Zach can clean the whole house in one hour. I can try and try for months to get my littlest to potty train, and the first time Zach says "Let's go pee pee on the potty!" he says "Okay!" and immediately goes to the bathroom. UGH. I'm pretty sure he could even look better pregnant than I do. Oh well! I guess we'll just count ourselves lucky that we got such fabulous hubbies!

hannah said...

I'm so glad you're back...to the blog. My husband, Barry, is the same way.

Anonymous said...

good wives lie

YellowMutt said...

So glad you are back! I have pretty much always been under the assumption that husbands can do SOOO much more than we ever thought possible. It's just a talent passed down generation to generation, father to son, to always make it SEEM like the house, kids, and responsibility were too much for the guys.

Jed, I'm sorry buddy, but you are bursting the bubble. You may want to go into hiding, because if all those other guys who have worked so very hard to seem incompetent catch wind of you letting the cat out of the bag...you may be in for some trouble!

YellowMutt said...

So glad you are back! I have pretty much always been under the assumption that husbands can do SOOO much more than we ever thought possible. It's just a talent passed down generation to generation, father to son, to always make it SEEM like the house, kids, and responsibility were too much for the guys.

Jed, I'm sorry buddy, but you are bursting the bubble. You may want to go into hiding, because if all those other guys who have worked so very hard to seem incompetent catch wind of you letting the cat out of the bag...you may be in for some trouble!

YellowMutt said...

why did that post twice? weird.

weese said...

My husband doesn't even bother playing Wii (except Wii bowling at which he got 8 strikes in a row) because I'm so much better at it tham him. So there.

Grettir said...

I could have used Jed's "how-to" manual when my girls were growing up. Without it, they had to suffer through a decade of my uninspired ponytails and poorly-placed barrettes.

Jen said...

Sounds like you've got a real copycat on your hands.

Helen said...

I love to check your blog from time to time. You are super funny, and I like to think that if we lived close we would get along great. www.simplerichs.blogspot.com

Pinecone said...

I really laughed at this post. My husband is the same! I always say that anything I can do...he can do better.
My kids are teens now...but when they were little and I had to go anywhere he would do amazing things with them - plus keep everything clean...and braid and pony tail 3 little girls hair (twins and another 14 months younger.)
He doesn't really cook...but I figure if he put his mind to that, he would be great at that too. It's sick really :)

Anonymous said...

Jayne we have all missed you! What a sweet post. Your little ones are so lucky to have you both!
Love Muth

Kim said...

Oh my! Is it really you? Congrats on the job and the other little thing. :) Super happy for you!

western dave said...

ditto to what Grettr said.

Teachinfourth said...

And all this time I just thought you'd died...