I Hate 5PM Till Bedtime (Monday to Friday)

My least favorite time of day is hands-down, without a doubt, 5PM till bedtime (Monday-Friday). I know… that probably sounds horrible coming from a working mom! Believe me, I know with school and daycare I barely see them during the week. But seriously, by the time I get those kids home from daycare, they’re exhausted, hungry, demanding little DEMONS. Between the screaming, crying, whining, fighting and constant snack requests–all the while I frantically search for the “right channel” on TV, attempt to get some kind of reasonably balanced dinner made and clean up from the morning’s chaos–it’s just fucking exhausting.

THEN when dinner is finally ready, the “JUST EAT YOUR GODDAMN FOOD” battle begins! An hour ago, I was practically starving my children to death, now suddenly they’re no longer hungry; they’re miraculously full after one bite and can’t stand to eat my horribly disgusting cooking–not even one more nasty bite!

It’s enough to make any reasonable woman go completely bat-shit-crazy!

By the time bedtime comes, I’m completely spent, and, to be totally honest, I’m just happy to see the back of their heads.

I love my husband dearly, but he just never seemed to “get it” either. He’s a great father and husband, and yes, he acknowledges that I “do a lot for the family,” but until recently, I don’t think he fully comprehended exactly what that even meant.

Realistically, why would he understand? When he gets home from his commute, order is already magically restored. The kids haven’t seen him since the night before, and they become temporarily distracted with his return. “Yeah, Daddy’s home!” They seem perfectly happy to him. In fact, the house is mostly tidy and dinner is ready. Can’t be all that bad.

NEWS FLASH – that magical cleaning fairy your mom always referred to? It was actually HER!!!!!

So, after my husband’s repeated suggestion to “make time for myself,” I did. I booked a hair appointment at my favorite salon, I kissed everyone good-bye, and I walked (ran) to my car.

As I sat blissfully zoned out at the salon – I couldn’t help but secretly wish the kids were going totally crazy and driving my husband completely insane. I can’t be the only one that wishes that….am I?!

I delightfully pictured the epic battle that would certainly ensue when Daddy didn’t get the right post-bath towel ready, picked out the wrong pyjamas or–heaven forbid–packed the wrong snack combination in tomorrow’s lunch! My god, what would happen if he didn’t give them each matching cups and plates at dinner!?

I’d been gone over two hours. Surely the house had gone to hell in a hand basket by now! A wicked grin crept across my face as I entered the front door…

But to my absolute disgust and complete disappointment, I found NONE OF THAT! There was no crying, no fighting AND no whining. “Mommy’s home!” I was greeted with smiling, happy faces and cheers!

Annoyed, I plunged my deflated ego into the sofa chair and glared intensely at my husband. WHAT THE FUCK? I was actually pissed off! Do my kids fucking hate me, or is this some kind of cruel joke? Why are they little terrorists for me but perfect little angels for my husband!?

But then I heard it…

After everyone was securely tucked in and my husband marched down stairs…I heard it….I heard that all too familiar heavy sigh of relief.

“What’s wrong” I smugly pried.

“They’re exhausting!” he replied.

“But when I got home, everyone seemed fine…”

I paused. And then… it happened…

I finally understood what my husband sees when he gets home: happy, smiling faces and warm greetings at the door! AND he finally sees life from my perspective: exhausted life-sucking whining, fighting and crying that suddenly stops and order is magically restored when the kids are now faced with double the parental opposition!

Truthfully, it’s of little consolation when I am about to come completely unglued, but at least I know I am not the only one who hates 5PM till bedtime (Monday to Friday).

Candace Livingstone
My Blog: www.threesqueezes123.blogspot.ca