Is My Wife Selfish?

Alright you know the routine; our children have way more activities compared to when we were their age. My son right now is playing Flag football and started Basketball practices. My daughter is playing Soccer and has also started Basketball practices. The Games are on the weekend, which is no problem since we are both home and we can drive them separately to the games. But during the week I don’t get home from work in time to help get them to practices.

Yesterday we experienced something that will not occur regularly. My son’s football practice started at 5:30. The field is about 20 minutes from our home and our daughter’s basketball practice started at 5:50. To go from the football field to the gym where my daughters practice is being held will take 25 min. Do the math. She will be late for basketball practice.

Also, my wife also is trying to get dinner going.

I arrive at home at 6:00 and the plan is to go pick my son up at 6:30 and dash back to get my daughter at 7:15. But a huge rainstorm blows into town and cuts my sons practice short. Our friend who coaches the team takes him to his house.

No problem, right? Except the rain has caused flooding on the streets and highways that I need to take to get me to their house. I am not going to make to the gym by 7:15 to get my daughter.

This is where my problem starts.

I call my wife to tell her I won’t be able make it to the gym in time. She stresses that she is in the middle of making dinner and the running around is taking its toll on her. She starts yelling through the phone that she wants the kids to start cutting things out of their schedule.

Now from the beginning of their extracurricular careers I have stressed 3 things.
1. They like the activity and want to do it.
2. It does not interfere with their school work. Home work gets done and they have time for studying.
3. We can afford the cost for the activity.

That’s it. I would do whatever is needed to get them to their activities. This is a year round issue because, other sports come into play in different seasons, baseball, and softball, swimming and cheerleading. Because of these activities some things will suffer, like my own hobbies, social life and of course the upkeep of our own home.

When I get home my wife was not happy. She states that she hates football and doesn’t enjoy driving 20 minutes to take him to practice. She wants him to quit. So I go and open my big mouth and tell her I think she is being selfish. She is only thinking about herself and not caring about her children.

Well she blew her top, telling me how I dare call her selfish when all she does is care about her children. Then she proceeded to tell me how much our house is being neglected because we are never home on the weekends to get anything done. While this is true, I rather have my children being involved in activities, making friends and gaining some self esteem then staying at home because I am mowing the lawn or painting a room.

After apologizing for my choice of words, I still felt the issue was about her. Of course my words were hurtful and I regret saying them. Also I promised I would try my best get things done around the house when we are not driving around town.

Here are my questions.

Is she only thinking of herself because she doesn’t like to drive and be in the car that long? Should we cut activities out? How would you handle the upkeep of your home if you are running around all weekend?

Let us know what you think.

A Birthday present for my boy

The big question! What to get a boy for his birthday. In the past he would ask for video games, DS or Wii. Now that he is getting older and luckily starting to spend more time outside, he is looking for a new bike. He is generally small for his age but has had a growth spurt recently and says his bike is now too small.

One day he is over friends of ours and they have a boy the same age. He notices his friend riding on a different looking skateboard. He yells, what are you riding? He shouts back, it’s– The Shred Sled.
Needless to say we found our present for my son’s birthday.
You know it looks like a Snowboard. You have the same type of thrills and carving movements on the Street. Like a combination Snowboard and Skateboard.
With 4 Inline wheels you have more control than 2 wheels. Turns better than a skateboard, controls better, and even goes up hills – Check Out The Shred Sled!

Other great things about this is the 4-80mm polyurethane wheels and ABEC-5 Bearings are Smoother and Stronger and rarely need to be replaced, unlike other boards.

The Shred Sled is SMOOTHER and EASIER than older 2 wheel boards.

By the way Girls love riding it as well.

Very important PARENTAL ADVICE!!! Please purchase all the necessary protection for your child. Helmets with knee and elbow pads.

Need to go out and can't find a babysitter?

How many times has it happened? You are ready to go out to a party with your friends and you still need a babysitter?

Your In-Laws cancelled because they are going to their friends to play Bridge and your neighbors daughter is going out with her friends. The pressure is starting to get to you because you have been waiting 2 weeks for this day to come. You and your spouse haven't gone out without your kids in ages. The thought of having adult conversation and few laughs is starting to make you desperate to find a baby sitter.

You start asking your friends if they know of any babysitters who are available. They in-turn aren't quite helpful. Why? They don't want you to steal their babysitters.

Well my wife and I used to go through this a lot. Then one day at work my wife over heard a co-worker say "The best local sitters are at Sittercity.com". Boy, when she got home that night she went right to the computer to look at their site.

She discovered they are America's largest and most trusted site for matching parents with local babysitters and nannies as well as dog walkers, senior care providers and tutors, with over a million caregiver profiles nationwide. Parents looking for sitters can use the four-step screening process, which includes checking references, reading caregiver reviews, conducting interviews and utilizing free access to background checks to find the perfect match for their family.

Need a babysitter? The best local sitters are at Sittercity.com. Save 15% on registration with promo code SAVE15