When Nicki asked me 6 or 7 weeks ago about going to Women's Conference, I said, "That's fine, but what are the kids going to do in Provo while you are up there?"
Obviously, that's not what I said, since we are still married. I'm not an idiot. It was clear that she was going to need this break. I needed the break, after all, and I go to work every day.
Weeks passed, and I trained and prepared for the days that she would be leaving...by putting it completely out of my mind. Then, April 28th rolled around and she was already gone when I got home from work at about 5 pm. "Okay, I can do this."
I must say, I did a great job. I maintained my patience and was so calm with the kids and everything. All the way until about 6 pm. On April 28th.
Look, I could chronicle the not-going-to-bed, the getting-up-before-6-am, the not-eating-the-food, the diapers, the whining, the crying, the tattling. The "Daddy, I need this." "Daddy, why does he get to..." The everything else. But all that doesn't matter. I claim success and victory, because, when Nicki got home on Saturday, we still had 6 children. Alive. As in not dead...by my hand, specifically.
I realize that 50% of you are thinking, "Yeah. It's about time a man had to see what it's really like." See, I have said for years that I would much rather go to work, than stay home, because work is so much easier. I had stayed home before, when it was just Matti. And THAT was more work than work. So I already knew and ALWAYS appreciated what Nicki does day in and day out. So nothing new was learned, okay? I am enlightened.
Well, something new was learned, actually. With six kids, staying at home is more than more work than work. (Did you follow that just now?) I won't even attempt to quantify the multiple (10 times, 100 times, 1 billion times - you pick). But I can say this:
Think of the worst day you ever had at work. Now repeat that EVERY day at work. It's still easier than staying home with six kids. Please take my word for it. Or, on behalf of 50% of you, don't.
