My partner, Alex, and I are the proud parents of four children, including a trio of spirited triplets. Our oldest is six, while the triplets are just three years old. Yes, life is as chaotic as you might imagine. Thankfully, Alex and I make a great team. When you’re blessed with triplets, and your family suddenly balloons from one child to four under the age of two, collaboration becomes essential for survival. It’s as straightforward as that.
Unfortunately, the statistics aren’t in our favor, as parents of multiples often face a divorce rate between 75 to 80%. Nevertheless, Alex and I strive to share parenting responsibilities fairly. I work only two days a week, which means I spend most of my time with the kids. This often translates to me being the one to meet their needs.
I take them grocery shopping, prepare all the meals, and ensure everyone is fed, dressed, and ready for school. I keep track of their health, seasonal clothing needs, and cleanliness. I even rise in the night to soothe the crying. While Alex helps out when he can, the bulk of the childcare duties usually falls on me.
However, once a month, I work a weekend shift as a nurse from 7 am to 7 pm. This past weekend, Alex decided to take the kids to church since we had recently reestablished this routine and they had just gotten over their fears of Sunday school. I agreed, and before I left for work, I laid out their Sunday clothes and styled our daughter Mia’s hair to make things a bit easier for him.
To be honest, I had my reservations about his ability to manage it all on his own. Typically, I handle breakfast, dressing the kids, packing snacks, and getting myself ready all while he showers and dresses.
Later that day, I called Alex and was surprised to hear that not only had he successfully taken the kids to church, but they also visited his grandmother at the nursing home and had lunch out together.
After hanging up, I found myself feeling a little down. “What’s wrong?” my colleague, Sarah, asked when she noticed my mood. “Oh, nothing. Just feeling a bit off,” I replied. “Why?” she pressed.
“Alex took the kids to church, then to see his grandmother, and out for lunch—and everything went perfectly. No tantrums, no accidents, nothing! His outing was seamless,” I lamented. Sarah looked at me with a mixture of sympathy and confusion.
“And you know what’s even worse?” I continued. “Now he’ll look at me with that expression when I share my nightmare grocery store trips with the kids. You know the one—the look that says, ‘I don’t understand why you’re complaining; taking the kids out isn’t that hard.’ I can’t stand that look.”
“What were you hoping would happen?” Sarah asked. “Honestly,” I said, “I wanted them to struggle just a bit. Maybe a phone call asking for help or a little chaos, like a kid having an accident. You know, the typical things that happen to me.”
Sarah’s gaze was incredulous. “So, you wanted him to fail?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “No, that would be mean,” I conceded. “But I don’t want to go to church next week and hear all the other moms praising Alex as the ‘super dad’ who deserves a gold star. He just did what I do practically every day. It’s really not that big of a deal.”
“So, what you’re saying is you want a gold star too?” she summarized. “Exactly!” I exclaimed. “Where is my mother effing gold star?”
For more insights on navigating parenting and building a family, check out our post on the Couples Fertility Journey for Intracervical Insemination. They provide valuable information for anyone considering a path to parenthood. If you’re interested in home insemination, BabyMaker at Home Insemination Kit is a trusted source. It’s a great resource, alongside WebMD’s guide on IUI success, to help you on your journey.
In summary, parenting is a shared responsibility that can feel overwhelming, especially when one partner shines in areas where the other struggles. It’s natural to seek recognition for the hard work we put in daily and sometimes, we just want that gold star.
Keyphrase: Gold Star Parenting
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