Selective Memory

D and I had this debate recently...about how the whole kid thing is easier for mom's because he says we have "selective memory". Labor and child birth seem not as intense even just months (ok, maybe a little longer...ha) after it takes place. He believes the same can be said for day-to-day parenting experiences.

I tend to not make things a big deal...days with tantrums, or nights spent covered in puke...that's life. You deal, you move on. Yes, it can get rough, and yes, I would love to sleep in past 6:30 am at some point in the next year, but you know what? If it doesn't happen, I think I'll be just fine.

He seems to think that this past year has been especially rough and gets way more frustrated during public meltdowns or fussiness. 5 minutes later Grace has moved on and so have I, but he takes longer to get over it. Honestly, if I told him tomorrow that I don't want to have any more kids, I think he would schedule a vasectomy for the next available appointment.

Don't get me wrong, he loves Grace to the moon and back and is so proud to be her daddy...but when it comes to his assessment of parenting during her first year, we are on opposite ends of the spectrum. He will openly admit that it is a damn hard job. I tend to sugar coat it.

Is it selective memory though? I don't think so. I think mom's are just more realistic about how children will act and more patient in dealing with it. D can't imagine thinking about Baby 2 right now...I say, let's suck up the late nights, early mornings, public meltdowns, and ringing ears close together and get it over with instead of waiting several years and starting back from square one.

I don't know where this post is going anymore. I know most of you reading don't have kids yet...but those that do- am I alone in this? Do your baby daddy's (ha) have less tolerance for the grunt work that comes along with parenting? Is D just being a sissy? ;)

xo,
H