These days, Dads are really stepping up to the plate and doing so much more than their ancestors ever did. In earlier times, men weren’t as involved with child-rearing. They didn’t change diapers or take a turn with midnight feedings. Young dads today not only do those things but they often make lunches, read bedtime stories, cook dinners and clean the house as well.
But, there is one area that still seems to be the sole responsibility of moms, and that is being:
“The Keeper of All Information”! (I’m hearing a loud, echoing voice saying those words!).
Which kid has been invited to whose birthday party? Does that family have rules about appropriate gifts and have we bought one yet? What kinds of clothes match the type of birthday party being thrown? Does our child have the clothes needed and are they clean? Have I cleared our schedule and set up transportation to and from the party? Is there any wrapping paper in the house besides Christmas paper?
And, that’s just some of the information moms need to store in their brains for one function! Our minds are so filled with things to remember that it’s a miracle there’s any room left for anything else (like the names of our kids, or our own names for that matter!).
When is school picture day? Which kids need haircuts? Have I made the appointments? Which relatives will want a copy of the photo? Which print package should we buy? Did I fill out the picture forms? Where ARE the picture forms?
What day are we supposed to bring snacks? What are the rules about acceptable snacks? Do we have food for school lunches? Which of the kids’ schools is peanut-free?
When is library day? Where are the books we need to return? Are the kids up to date on their shots? What day is Ballet? When is the sign-up day for softball?
We joke about mommy brain, but you can see why we HAVE mommy brains! There is so much junk up in there that it’s no wonder we explode sometimes and start mumbling incoherently about our need for more coffee.
I was recently visiting with a mom after we’d gotten our families tucked into bed for the night. She was listing off the things on her to-do list for the coming week when she suddenly yelled, “Oh no, I forgot to make playdough for my son’s class tomorrow!” It was 10 pm and after we hung up, she had to drag her tired body into the kitchen and cook up some playdough. It wasn’t that her husband wouldn’t have helped her earlier, it was just that the fact that it needed to be done at all was in her brain, not his.
Now, I love guys and I hate all the male-bashing that goes on these days, but can you imagine a dad waking up in the middle of the night yelling, “I forgot to wash Susie’s leotard and tights for ballet tomorrow!” Most men are just not wired that way.
Will that part of life ever be “equal”? Probably not. Because, while most families do try to even up the chore list, mommies still carry the vast majority of parenting information in their brains. And, no matter how exhausted we are, we have been designed with an incredible ability for processing and storing huge amounts of important stuff in our brains (you know, like who hates peas and which shirts have the “itchy” tags).
And, that’s yet another reason why I think moms are one of God’s most amazing creations!
