The Mom: The Myth, The Legend

The Mom: The Myth, The Legend……………..And the Pack Mule?

First let me mention, I saw a meme online the yesterday. It read something to the effect that marriage vows should contain a passage that the wife should accept the fact that the husband will never be able to find anything on his own. For me, this rings true. In fact, just the other day, my husband lost my car keys; not just the main set, but also the secondary set. I will also mention, we have a key ring holder, as soon as you walk in the door, labeled KEYS. Not joking, it actually says KEYS. Suffice it to say, the spare set somehow ended up in his truck parked in his parents driveway, and the main set ended up on top of my car, clearly where 5’3″ me could not reach them.

I often hear, “babe, have you seen ______” or “hey hun, where is _____” usually with “I know I put it right here so where did YOU put it” especially if I say I don’t know.

The point is, this was an unexpected part of the Wife-job for me. I don’t mind most days, because it oddly gives me purpose: the keeper of my husband’s lost and misplaced property. I also don’t mind because I am a control-freak and like to know where everything is located. Nevertheless, it was somewhat unexpected.

Like wife-ing, there are unexpected parts of mom-ing. One such unexpected job is being the family pack mule.

Case #1: My husband and I decide to take my son swimming as a family outing on a Saturday. My husband changes his clothes. Meanwhile I pack the diaper bag, pack three changes of clothes for my son, swim diapers, regular diapers, towels, arm inflatables, snacks, toys, water/juice in a sippy, and pack a change of clothes for me and my husband. (Not suggesting at all that my hubby wouldn’t help if I asked, it is just the usual that I am in charge of the packing part).

Case #2. I have a work conference coming up at the end of the week in an area where my in-laws own a cabin. So last month, mom-planner me, asked if I could stay at the cabin during my conference and perhaps the family, husband, son, dogs and in-laws, (whoever) could meet up with me there for a nice weekend. Now, mama-me spent Sunday packing for my son, and will spend tonight and tomorrow packing for the dogs and for me, and then spend the following day packing the SUV, so its all prepared for my husband to drive up on the weekend. This way we don’t forget anything essential by packing last minute. (Again, I am not suggesting at all that my hubby wouldn’t help or doesn’t help if I asked, but I am in charge of the packing/preparing part usually).

When I was growing up, My mom used to say my brother and I always asked her to hold things when we were out and about. She said before she knew she was covered up in bags. We would then terrorize her, asking for whatever item hidden inside one of the hundred bags strapped to her. She often described this phenomena as being a pack mule.

Well Mom, you were right. Relish in this moment. YOU. WERE. RIGHT.

I seriously feel your pain and have complete understanding now.

It is so so so true. The unexpected mom job as family pack mule is REAL.