Today’s LetsBlogOff asks, “What is home?”
Boy, has this changed for me. “Home” has gone from “BEFORE” – an apartment with me and my dog (late, great, adorable beagle/basset Stella), to “AFTER” – a house with my husband and stepsons. (And the emergency replacement basset, Daisy.)
Home is where:
BEFORE:
I could watch whatever I wanted on TV.
AFTER:
My husband could “accidentally” delete my DVR recordings to make room for every college football game anyone ever even thought about playing.
BEFORE:
My kitchen sink was typically empty and dried with a paper towel to eliminate drips and spots. (Just the way mom used to do it.)
AFTER:
Every time I walk into the kitchen I find another glass, knife, fork, spoon and/or dish in the sink. And a sopping wet sponge. EVERY TIME. I blame my mother- in-law. (Sorry, Didi. Love you. But really??) For some reason the boys (and hubby) were never allowed to open the dishwasher and place items inside. When I was first married and tried to “take this hill,” they (the boys) insisted items in the sink made a house look “lived in.” Apparently that is supposed to be a good thing. Whereas my life was spent trying to make a house NOT look lived in, but to look photograph-ready.
BEFORE:
I could feast on a dinner of appetizers every night. Cheese & crackers Monday. Cold shrimp Tuesday, Taquito Wednesday… I kept my weight in check and grocery bills down.
AFTER:
Dinner involves an entrée, 2 sides and often the appetizer that used to be my whole meal. Plus, for some reason, boys who ask “What are we having for dinner?” are not happy when the response is, “I’m having an apple and some cheese and crackers. I don’t know what YOU’RE having.”
On the flip side, more often than not, it is hubby who is cooking the too large and complex dinner. I’m just the idiot who eats it and then feels terrible because I just ate a steak and baked potato at 8:45 PM.
I could go on and on… but I won’t. Thank your lucky stars I am at the end of lunchtime again.
But in summary, my answer to the question: “What is home?” is apparently, “Where the boys are.”
Dramatic sigh.
Hogging the TV, making messes that amplify the “lived in” look we were SO not going for, and tempting me with too much food that I normally would not even consider purchasing, much less consuming. (Thank goodness most of the junk food gets eaten before I am even fully aware it’s available.)
It’s also where I am never allowed to take out the trash myself, where the yard work is “men’s business,” and I always have someone who knows the score of the game. ANY game. I can also occasionally get a neck rub, an awesome old-fashioned, and a really good steak (medium rare).
For other takes on the What is home? topic, please click here.
Diary of Ann Franks 
Yes, great post and I almost feel as if I’m there with you!
Great post! I think I now believe “Home is where the dog is!” Thanks for posting!
Scott Thoughts
Wonderful post. And for all the give and take of daily life and it’s changes- would you have it any other way? My guess would be no.
You would be correct. I wouldn’t change a thing.
My poor wife. She is so sick of the “What’s for dinner” question. She can almost never cook a meal all 4 kids will like.
I have a feeling that after they all leave I will be on my own for twenty years strait.
Well, James, you can always bring her along and have some steak with us.
LOL, I guess this brings another another view to what they really meant when they said for better or worse – great article
Great post! Especially on the heels of visiting my family. I am so used to being alone it stands in stark relief to be around kids again.
it’s funny how life hands us situations we’d never imagine for ourselves. not much you can do about it except laugh and learn whatever you’re meant to learn. maybe you simply needed more steak in your life ;) great post!
Thanks, Denese! Don’t we all need more steak? (Except for my vegan friends, of course. They need more bacon.)
What a fantastic story of yin and yang about your life! I’m not a big fan of dishes in the sink, but I have no problem leaving tools out to make me feel like I might actually get something done. :)
Maybe I’ll try that strategy. Instead of tools, a paint brush and can of paint for some household touch ups…
Ha ha ha ha ha! Loved it. I too have tried feeding my family cheese and crackers or cereal for dinner. Their response, “No, seriously, Mom. What’s for dinner?” They don’t respond well to “Whatever you make” either.
Jo-Anne, Thank you! I think there’s nothing wrong with a good bowl of Cheerios for dinner.
Wow, that’s some funny stuff. I don’t know how people survive such a severe change in life, but having a sense of humor just has to be the first step in keeping sane—and grounded! My wife and I are childless and have been married for 35 years now. And after all these years, notwithstanding the fact that we are both on the wrong side of 60 now, it is still like living in a college dorm. Weekday dinners are simple—can of soup, of that. Weekends are often a good movie, popcorn, and beer!
Sounds ideal to me! (Although the kid stuff has been interesting. And good fodder.)