I'm fascinated by families. Specifically, how families divide or share child-rearing responsibilities.
I've heard horror stories of dads who've never been alone with their kids. HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN? I wonder what parents with 9-5 jobs do in the summer when their kid(s) aren't in school. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THEM? I hear about parents who never take their kids out in public, yet I also see moms out on the town (enjoying coffee, a beer, or time not tethered to a small maniac) and I wonder who is taking care of the babe. Babysitter? Dad? Nanny? Family member? Indentured servant? HOW DO YOU GET TIME ALONE?
I'll tell you what I do, for comparison's sake. I take 65% of the child-rearing duties, mostly because I'm home the majority of the waking hours. Feeding, bathing, teaching, reading, etc. That's me.
The G is stupid-good at using his time with them to play fun and educational games, read great kid novels, and teach them cool things.
If I go to work in the evening and The G is also working, I find one of the REALLY LOVELY PEOPLE in the my life who will babysit for free. (Have I told you how lovely and nice you are? You are so nice and lovely.) I have a last-resort option in case no one can do it, and that is a lady I actually pay. Sometimes, I have to bring the crew with me and MY STUDENTS ARE SO LOVELY AND TOLERANT of my children.
I go out when there's no plans (mostly on the weekends) and get some MeTime (#metime). Often this time is spent running errands (to the bank, to the post office, picking up various doodads around town, meeting up with friends), but sometimes I get a cup of coffee and don't have to talk to anyone for an hour. *bliss* The G entertains the ladies during all that and everyone is happy.
How do you rear your child? Do you work at a "real job"? Who watches your kids? How do you go out without the wee ones?
