I feel safe telling you now that he’s on his way home*, that Tate has been on vacation this past week. And when I say vacation, I’m referring to the type of vacation that took him away from home for 6 days, enjoying the bliss known as being “child-free.” It was a full-on MAN vacation filled with bows and arrows and farting, so although I could have come along, I decided to take my chances with the kids.
I really don’t want to be THAT wife, the one who’s jealous and not supportive, the MARTYR. Considering that I’m going on 6 solo days of parenting, in an increasingly crappy rental, fresh from a move that I wasn’t too jazzed about, I think I’m handling his vacation rather well. Oops, there I go, being the martyr.
Anyway, several times Tate has called while on his CHILD-FREE vacation, complaining about something. My poor eyes have nearly rolled out of my head with his moaning. Seriously, who calls the spouse who’s SINGLE PARENTING to complain about their vacation!? Oh right, Tate did that. Tate, the one who promised to “love and cherish” me, not “leave me alone while he’s goes on vacation, only to call and COMPLAIN.” Oops, and there I go again with that darned martyrdom.
He’s also called a few times with MY honey-do list, because apparently taking care of two toddlers alone for 6 days leaves me with ample time to do grunt work. Before arriving home, I’m supposed to have done something about calling somebody, but I can’t remember because, uh oh!, I wasn’t listening. I’m also supposed to find recipes for persimmons (what???), but gosh darn if the Internet wasn’t down (*eyes roll straight outta my head*).
And since I’m so good at not being THAT martyr wife, I did what any good wife would do. I went shopping. Certainly 6 single parenting days earned me a some new shirts a pair darling little flats, and some EXPENSIVE makeup from Sephora.
*Just in case you’re a creepy Internet stalker and thinking that you’ve got a small window of time to come over before Tate gets home, I think it’s only fair that I tell you about my Rottweiler named Jeffrey Dahmer.
*************************************
/snark
Today’s Reader Appreciation giveaway is from Good for the Kids!
Angie from Good for the Kids is offering….drumroll…..
A $50 gift certificate for today’s giveaway!! $50!!! $50!!!!!
To enter, check out Good for the Kids and tell me how you’d spend your winnings (and feel free to comment on the above post, too).
Comments on this post will close at 7 AM, EST, November 21, 2008.
Comments Closed! Thanks for playing!
MIL in STL
November 19, 2008 at 7:14 am
Been there…done that!! Love ya
Rachel
November 19, 2008 at 7:32 am
Jennifer, I think you let Tate off easy
I cannot believe he called you to complain about his vacation, has the man taking leave of his senses? Sheesh.
Rachel´s lastest post..Happy Birthday Princess.
Marinka
Twitter: MarinkaNYC
November 19, 2008 at 7:39 am
Oh, I hear you. Husbandrinka called once from a business trip to Paris (and not the one in Texas) to complain that the waiters were really slow in the million star restaurant. I’m pretty sure that I went shopping, too, but since I’d saved so much money on legal defense fees that are usually incurred in homicide defense cases, I didn’t think anything of it.
Marinka´s lastest post..Spoiler Saturday
Spring
November 19, 2008 at 7:47 am
Tell me about it. My husband is leaving Saturday for “hunting camp”. He will undoubtedly call and complain about the cold, the people, and who knows what else. All the while, I’ll be trying to juggle work & our toddler while trying to pack to head to my dad’s & a trip to Pigeon Forge (leaving Thanksgiving evening). And, let’s not forget that I’m sure I’ll get called and told what all needs done. Oh and my trip, you ask? My 2 day girls only trip/vacation/shopping til we want to kill people…yeah, he’s leaving our daughter with his mom & sister; you know, because it’s just too hard to keep her for less than 48 hours. It gets way too frustrating.
And on another note, the giveaway site is awesome! I love the stacking blocks, magnetic dress up and the great puzzles!
Janine
November 19, 2008 at 8:02 am
I would buy the play food.
Now onto husbands. Ugh! My husband refused to drop off a bottle of formula at daycare, which is on his way to the train, because we was running late. So I had to drive all the way home, get the bottle, go all the way back, drop it off, drive all the way home again. I lost about an hour of productive time. And yes, when I called him to ask if he could drop it off for me, he was AT HOME, almost ready to LEAVE to the train.
I was annoyed. Just a tad.
Then he had the nerve to call me when I was driving home for the second time to complain about the train.
I hung up on him.
iMommy
November 19, 2008 at 8:03 am
I would put it towards a Melissa & Doug Easel for Boopie for Christmas.
iMommy´s lastest post..Holiday Shopping
Jessica C
November 19, 2008 at 8:04 am
I am sorry My husband dose that too. Any time to your self with out the kids should be wonderful.
I love good for the kids. My daughters wants a Zoobie Pets
Beth
November 19, 2008 at 8:31 am
I always tell my husband that if he leaves me for a few days it’s going to be an expensive trip….because I am going to do a lot of shopping….and going out to eat…..and doing more shopping.
I think I would definitely get the Melissa & Doug Firefighter’s costume…my son loves playing dress up. And I love the magnetic puzzles, too!
NGS
November 19, 2008 at 8:44 am
Oh, I would buy my best friend’s little one some of the wooden toys – the pound a peg or the ABC block pull cart, probably.
NGS´s lastest post..45 x 365 #23
Ashlie- Mommycosm
Twitter: Mommycosm
November 19, 2008 at 8:45 am
OK, you first. When do YOU get to go on a 6 day vacation without the kids? I’m talking vacation, like spa or beach, not necessarily something like BlogHer b/c really, that’s kinda work…as far as he needs to know.
Retail therapy does wonders for a marriage!
The contest? I like the Sportybaby Golf DVD. It would make an awesome Christmas gift for a close friend who is golf-obsessed.
Ashlie- Mommycosm´s lastest post..Using Google Alerts to monitor your blog’s buzz
The Glamorous Life
November 19, 2008 at 8:45 am
Husband took a vacation without you??? That boy better come home with a box from Tiffany if he knows what is good for him!
Stephanie
November 19, 2008 at 8:59 am
I would get some of the floor puzzles for my nephew. He’s almost 3 and is puzzle obsessed!
lceel
November 19, 2008 at 9:03 am
No comment. I just want to let you know I fulfilled my daily obligation to stop by here to see how things are going. But I am not going to comment. first of all, i don’t have a husband to complain about – I AM one. One that gets complained about a LOT.
I feel so guilty.
lceel´s lastest post..An Irish Tale
Connie @ Young and Relentless
Twitter: connieaw
November 19, 2008 at 9:05 am
My husband is not a hunter. He is a Bronco Fan and we moved 600 miles away from his season tickets. So…he travels 5 weekends a year during football season. Alone.
I shop my @ss off when he is gone. Glad I’m not the only one….
Connie @ Young and Relentless´s lastest post..A Conversation with Dave
cgogis
November 19, 2008 at 9:06 am
My son is very into puzzles right now, so I’d spend the gift certificate on all kinds of new Melissa & Doug puzzles (like the On the Go Vehicles Jigsaw Puzzle). I hope it would buy me some quiet time while my husband is gone – even if his trip is only for a day! I don’t know how you did 6 days! I would go insane. Maybe that says something about me… oh well. I think you deserved a shopping spree!
cgogis at yahoo dot com
Jen L.
November 19, 2008 at 9:13 am
Oh, wow, I LOVE everything by Melissa and Doug (got some of their puzzles as a gift), so I’d buy a lot of their classic stuff, like blocks and the little wooden hammer set. Fun site!
That seriously blows about your husband. I hope this kids were good for you.
Jen L.´s lastest post..NOOOO! This is NOT happening now!
Kathy
November 19, 2008 at 9:13 am
Just agreeing here…mine went to Montana for 10 days in Sept to hunt elk. Where have I been, you ask? Ha! Here fielding phone calls for his company and faxing stuff every ten minutes. Oh, and homeschooling 3 kids.
I need a vacation!
wright
November 19, 2008 at 9:14 am
Husbands – can’t live with ‘em; can’t live without ‘em.
I love anything Melissa and Doug!
wright´s lastest post..Rut
DesignHER Momma
Twitter: designhermomma
November 19, 2008 at 9:14 am
yes…I can totally relate, mines in Atlanta right now at a “conference”.
Don’t tell me you went to Sephora with the kids…that would be like hell on earth for me.
2 little girls trying to touch and try everything, 1 very large girl wanting also to try and touch everything…nobody getting what they want.
DesignHER Momma´s lastest post..who needs a doll when you have a cat?
Mommy Daisy
Twitter: mommydaisy
November 19, 2008 at 9:19 am
My husband was in Africa for two weeks not that long ago. I figured that was my free pass to go shopping. Why is that?
Oh, that little pull along alligator toy is adorable on the Good for the Kids website.
Mommy Daisy´s lastest post..Shaun the Sheep DVD Review & Giveaway
johanna
November 19, 2008 at 9:19 am
6 days?!? I don’t know how you can do it. I only have one child and I couldn’t do it alone for 6 days. I would go crazy!!
As far as the contest, I think I would get potty training stuff!
Erin
November 19, 2008 at 9:19 am
Oooooh – I would LOVE to get a cutting food set…
And I’ll just say that men are clueless – if I did that to the husband he’d be calling me a nag but if he does it to me… Ughhhhh.
Erin´s lastest post..Need I say more?
Christy
November 19, 2008 at 9:20 am
You always deserve expensive makeup from Sephora, no matter the occasion. Pat Jeffery for me, is he still foaming at the mouth?
Christy´s lastest post..Hannah Montana Naked
Burgh Baby
November 19, 2008 at 9:27 am
So what you’re saying is that Tate just gave you permission to go on a week-long vacation to anywhere you want. By yourself. That sounds about right, and totally fair.
Burgh Baby´s lastest post..Splish Jump Score
Moriah @ Please Pass the Salt
November 19, 2008 at 9:38 am
Yep, I’d be shopping right there along with you. A little materialism goes a LOOOOOONG way!!
Moriah @ Please Pass the Salt´s lastest post..Blocked
Carrie
November 19, 2008 at 9:40 am
I can’t comment on your post as I’m laughing too hard!
As for the wonderful $50, I think I would spend part, if not ALL, of that on gifts for some of the little kiddies in my x-mas list!
Carrie´s lastest post..Wanna Free DVD?
kelly
November 19, 2008 at 9:55 am
Love the eye roll visual!!
Your dog scares me!
Twenty Four At Heart
November 19, 2008 at 10:13 am
Briefcase travels constantly for business & often ties in a few extra days for fun. Like an extra week in Australia. Where I’ve wanted to go my entire life. ANYWAY – we have 3 kids. Sometimes he’ll call in the evening after too much partying. Want to kill his slurring voice too much? Naw …! Or when he says, “I just hate to be gone so long but if I’m going to be in Paris anyway I might as well spend a few days seeing the sights.”
Martyr? What’s that?
Deanna
November 19, 2008 at 10:33 am
Good grief. I thought I had the only husband who asked the impossible. Mine thinks I can weed the front garden and mow the yard while taking care of a one year old. *rolls eyes* Like what I do in the house isn’t enough.
Love your blog! I just stumbled on it the other day and am enjoying it.
Gina
November 19, 2008 at 10:35 am
Men! I work from home twice a week and my husband says things like, “oh you can take care of that, you’re off tomorrow” when in fact, those days at home are more stressful than the ones I am in the office.
As for the giveaway, it’s hard to decide, but you can’t go wrong with Melissa and Doug – it would be something from that brand.
Gina´s lastest post..W
Julie
November 19, 2008 at 10:39 am
I would definitely get some of the Melissa and Doug wooden blocks. Can’t have enough blocks!
amy
Twitter: amy2boys
November 19, 2008 at 11:01 am
Shopping is the best revenge!
amy´s lastest post..Monkeys and Bears Need Cages
Christina
November 19, 2008 at 11:04 am
I would get some of the craft stuff or maybe the construction worker play cloths for my little builder.
My husband takes “boys weekends” at his buddy’s cabin. He doesn’t call and complain, but he TRIED to take them every second weekend last summer. Like that’s going to happen!
Michele
November 19, 2008 at 11:06 am
Persimmon pudding– sugary goodness!
Steph
November 19, 2008 at 11:25 am
I would buy the wooden toys to keep around the house for friends kids. And maybe some BPA free sippy cups. Or custumes? I don’t know… its all so cute….
Steph´s lastest post..This gravy-train has sailed!
Paunchiness
November 19, 2008 at 11:38 am
I’ve been wanting to go on a motorcycle trip with the buddies for a while now. I always try to plan them when the wife is out of town for business trips. We’re currently working on having kids though so that’s going to put a damper on that whole gig.
I’m glad to see you’re being supportive about this whole thing.
Paunchiness´s lastest post..Orgasm on a Bike?
avonlea
November 19, 2008 at 11:40 am
6 days with two toddlers alone – wheeee! You definitely deserved some prizes for yourself.
For the contest, I’d have to buy the darling Max and Ruby beanie babies and one of the dress-up costumes for my little guy.
avonlea´s lastest post..Updated – Or Would It Be My Mommy CV?
Barb @ getupandplay
November 19, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Ugh. Martrydom is hard to avoid especially when your husband is being so annoying!
I love all the fun toy ideas- like dress ups and wooden barns- good old fashioned fun!
Barb @ getupandplay´s lastest post..Proposition 8
Jean@workingmomma247
November 19, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I’m liking the Melissa and Doug magnetic set..really anything puzzle or pretend for my little guy. The prices are reasonable so I’ll be checking back.
Anytime I’m sans kids for 6 days, my parents are lucky to get two phone calls. The first saying we made it and the second saying we’re on our way home. The whole no news is good news concept.
Jean@workingmomma247´s lastest post..Memes, Why Does It Always Have To Be Memes?
Anglophile Football Fanatic
November 19, 2008 at 1:00 pm
When’s Jennifer’s 6 day shop til you drop vacation? I giggle that we both have the same giveaway today.
Anglophile Football Fanatic´s lastest post..GiVeAwAy WeEk DaY 2: Pamper the Ladies
Anglophile Football Fanatic
November 19, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Also, CommentLuv’s at it again.
Lisa
November 19, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Ugh – I’d stop answering his calls if he was just complaining!!
On another note, I’d get play food or puzzles or crafty stuff to do with my daughter.
Rachael
November 19, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Oooh… Sephora. The store where I would NEVER EVER tell my husband how much it cost.
I would go for the Nickelodeon TY plush! Specifically, the Wonderpets and Wow Wow Wubbzy!
Rachael´s lastest post..Wordless Wednesday: Hotel Bed Jumping!
PsychMamma
November 19, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Sounds to me like the shopping trip was totally justified!! Six days of single parenting! Oy! Hang in there!
What a great giveaway! I love the Melissa & Doug Pizza Party Play Food and the Food Groups Play Food! The Balancing Cactus Game also looks great though.
P.S. I have a great Frosted Persimmon Cookies recipe if you want it (email me)
PsychMamma´s lastest post..Mammograms
Angella
November 19, 2008 at 1:53 pm
*I* am the one who goes away, but you better believe I try not to complain while he is single parenting.
Except for the time I called crying from SF during BlogHer because I missed my family…
I hope you enjoy your purchases, and if he gives you grief, sic the dog on him
Angella´s lastest post..I don’t mind you saying My name, but not after you stub your toe
MadWomanMeg
Twitter: MadWomanMeg
November 19, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Ooohhh I think I’d have to be all over that Bollaball Outdoor Golf Ladder thingummy. That is an awesome looking game!!
MadWomanMeg´s lastest post..Yup, naked under my clothes again.
Jennie
November 19, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I think I would have done WAY more shopping than you did- good restraint!
Oh, and I would the make-your-own monster puppet and some puzzles.
Jennie´s lastest post..Flickr Mosaic (100th post!)
tracey
November 19, 2008 at 2:05 pm
You SHOULD be a Martyr!! I remember feeling so wonderfully supportive when MY husband went for a week long fishing trip to CANADA, where there were no phones, when I was 8 freakin months pregnant.
I’m still awaiting my medal for that one…
tracey´s lastest post..2nd Grade Jokes, a Redux…
Lori
November 19, 2008 at 2:12 pm
I’d buy the squeaker sneakers, and of course some Melissa & Doug toys!!
Thanks for the giveaway! And you TOTALLY deserve more than some new makeup and shoes . . . how about a 6-day child-free vaca for yourself?? sounds about fair.
Lori´s lastest post..My First Meme (and awards, too)!
T with Honey
November 19, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I’d put it toward the Melissa and Doug Fold and Go Play Dollhouse.
T with Honey´s lastest post..Be my baby forever