Today was my first day back at work.
Thank you to all my lovely real-life and blog friends who emailed or texted or Facebooked me to wish me all the best. Really wasn't expecting that!
I am in a very blessed position at the moment. My return to part-time work (Thursday/ Friday) has coincided with my school-teacher husband being on holidays. This means that our kids can spend 5 or so weeks getting used to not having mummy around, before they also have to get used to their new daycare centre. (They will start there in late January).
This morning as I was leaving for work, I got to thinking about how me leaving for work is completely different to when my husband leaves for work.
When Matt goes to work, his morning is all about going to work. Sure, he has a quick play with the kids, or might get their breakfast out, but his main focus is on having a shower, getting dressed, having breakfast, brushing his teeth, getting into the car and leaving.
It was so different for me to go to work. I spent the morning trying to do (or give instructions for my husband to do) all my normal jobs - unloading the dishwasher, getting the kids' breakfast, feeding Miss 1. I left Matt with a long (verbal) list of how I do things (with the implication that he should do them the same way!) I spent my car trip wondering whether I would come home to total chaos and disorder. I sort of expected that the washing would not be hung, the dirty dishes would be all over the kitchen, the nappies would not be changed. Don't get me wrong. Matt is a great help around the house. He is completely capable of doing everything that I would do on an average day (except the breastfeeding, and maybe some of the cooking). (He probably doesn't have quite the level of intolerance to mess and dirt that I have).
I spent part of my day feeling (wrongfully) resentful. Why should it be so easy for Matt to go to work, and so hard for me to leave? And, then it occurred to me. I am experiencing the reality of how God has created us. As a general rule, God has created men with the inclination to outside work, and women are more inclined to the home. This is not to say that men shouldn't do any work at home, or that women shouldn't go out to work. It is not to say that women can't or don't enjoy work or that men don't enjoy spending time at home.
But I think Matt and I are fairly typical in this: His main area of responsibility is as a provider for our family. My income is supplementary. My main area of responsibility is at home. When Matt does stuff around the house, it is sort of like being a casual in a shop as opposed to being the store manager. He is happy to help out, but doesn't feel the same sense of responsibility as I do about staying on top of the washing or keeping the kitchen clean.
As it turns out, I underestimated my husband. I came home to three (fairly) happy kids and dinner nearly ready to serve. (I did leave instructions about what to cook!) And, I had a pretty good first day back at work too.
