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Friday, June 17, 2011

Blog Friend Feature: Mommy Shorts

When I feel like I need a good laugh, I know that I will get one from this week's Blog Friend Feature. In fact, I'll not only laugh at the hilarious stuff she comes up with, I'll probably snort and maybe even pee myself a little. She's THAT funny. Though, she's sharing a little sweeter side today, in honor of Father's Day. 

Let me introduce you to Ilana from Mommy Shorts

First of all, I'd like to thank Shell for having me here today. She is one of the most generous bloggers I have come across and I'm totally in awe of the community she has built around her site.

Today, I think it's only appropriate that I talk about my husband since Father's Day is on Sunday. It seems like I have talked about the holiday relentlessly on Mommy Shorts but I have yet to give Mike a proper send-up.

I poke a lot of fun at my husband on my blog. He plays the role of the stereotypical guy who likes to talk about sports and the weather and won't ask people for directions and wouldn't know how to put Mazzy (our 1 1/2 year old) down for a nap if he tried. (For the record, every word of that is true.)

But the reason I am allowed to have so much fun at his expense is because THE MAN EATS IT UP. He loves that the posts about him tend to get more traffic (he calls himself a "fan favorite") and more than once, he has suggested a Mike-central blog topic. Like the time he said I should do a post recording each aspect of our road trip to DC in real time.

For example...

8:14am: Mike suggests I do a blog post recording each aspect of our road trip to DC in real time.

8:15am: I ask Mike if he understands that I'm not twiddling my thumbs in the backseat, I'm taking care of a ten month old.

When I started writing Mommy Shorts, Mazzy was about six months old. At the time, I described Mike's role as pretty limited. He wasn't breastfeeding (obviously), he avoided changing diapers as much as possible, and he never woke up to tend to the baby in the middle of the night. Of course— he still claimed exhaustion. But the only thing I can figure is that I may have jostled him awake momentarily on the numerous instances I reluctantly got out of bed to do my maternal duties.

The difference between the roles of mother and father were pretty shocking to me. Especially since before the baby, we were equal parts husband and wife. We both had full-time jobs and I was used to us taking care of each other, paying our way and contributing to the household as a team.

But the interesting thing I've realized recently, is that as Mazzy grows, the roles begin to even out. For the past few months, it is Mike who is getting up with Mazzy in the morning and feeding her breakfast. And since he has always been the cook (his one atypical "guy's guy" feature), now that Mazzy eats what we eat, he makes her dinner too. Plus, he's watched her on his own a few times when I've been away. He'll even send pictures where Mazzy is not only fully dressed but wearing what I can only assume is not the same diaper I put her in before I left.

Also? When I'm away, Mike puts a barrette in Mazzy's hair just like I do. True, Mazzy is like Baby Captain Caveman without a barrette, but still. The thought of him doing her hair is just too cute for words.

Nine months of pregnancy did it's fair share to prepare me for the huge responibility of being a mother. But it doesn't prepare a father in the same way. I think it took the first year of Mazzy's life to do that.

And now, for the first time, I feel like we are both completely immersed in parenthood.

Equally and together.


Mommy Shorts Button B/W

Please leave Ilana some comment love here and then go follow Mommy Shorts if you don't already!

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48 Comments:

Blogger Sorta Southern Single Mom said...

What a sweet post. It made me giggle and tear up. Ilana, you hit the nail on the head and it sounds like you know how lucky you are!

June 17, 2011 at 7:37 AM  
Blogger LA Botchar said...

so true....even after having 3 kids...I still think 9 months wasn't enough time to prepare hubby for new arrival: even though he'd been then before! LOL But it does start to even out as they get older. Shout out to daddy's getting involved!

June 17, 2011 at 7:41 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

How wonderful that he cooks! What a special guy!

June 17, 2011 at 8:07 AM  
Blogger Barbara said...

What a cute post! I finally feel like my husband can start taking part, although I find he still gets all the fun stuff and I get all the crappy stuff (literally!).

June 17, 2011 at 8:09 AM  
Blogger Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Wow, I too like the part about cooking!

June 17, 2011 at 8:32 AM  
Anonymous Stephanei said...

My husband is the same. It used to make me quite mad actually. But now that the kids are older he is so much more involved. I finally feel like we are partners in the parental game.

June 17, 2011 at 8:32 AM  
Blogger Kmama said...

How sweet!!

My hubby also cooks. Gotta love a man who cooks!

June 17, 2011 at 8:32 AM  
Blogger Rebecca Dot Com said...

what a sweet blogger :) can't wait to go check her out! Once again, thanks for sharing :)

June 17, 2011 at 8:35 AM  
Blogger Not a Perfect Mom said...

it never fails when there's a new baby, just when I feel like I'm going to explode with the crazies since I feel like I'm doing everything, that's when the baby becomes a little less mom-needy and the hubs can help...it's totally universal

June 17, 2011 at 8:36 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a great post - checking her out now!

June 17, 2011 at 8:41 AM  
Blogger A Mommy in the City said...

I completely agree. It took my husband just about the same amount of time for him to feel really comfortable with the whole parenthood thing. He loves it now.

June 17, 2011 at 8:46 AM  
Blogger Liz said...

Ilana is such a fun girl!

June 17, 2011 at 9:10 AM  
Anonymous Sharon at Momof6 said...

I love Ilana's blog and read it regularly! Ilana- what a lovely post about your hubby! Although I am chuckling about how the workload with Mazzy is starting to even out now that she's a bit older..... trust me- it's a temporary state of being! While I appreciate all of the help my husband does give (and it IS a lot).... the scales are definitely toppled over in my favor as the one who pulls the workload around here! :)

June 17, 2011 at 9:13 AM  
Blogger Evonne said...

What a great post! My husband was the same when our kids were babies. Now that they're older, he does more of the morning routine and other things just them and him.

June 17, 2011 at 9:15 AM  
Blogger Mommy Shorts said...

Thanks for having me here today! And glad everyone can relate. Hope you all have a Happy Father's Day!

June 17, 2011 at 9:17 AM  
Blogger Danielle Taylor said...

Thanks for sharing and I think you summed it up perfectly!! I hope your hubby has a great Fathers Day!!

June 17, 2011 at 9:53 AM  
Blogger MommaKiss said...

I'm a big fan of Mommy Shorts. I actually continue to think it's about the shorter version of mommy pants, ya know? A pair of shorts, that are hiked way up to your belly button? Anyway - My husband is similar. Had no freakin clue what to do w/ our kids when they were first born. Now? He's all involved and up in their grill. Leaves me some time to, you know, do laundry and stuff.

June 17, 2011 at 9:59 AM  
Anonymous Anna ~ Random Handprints said...

happy father's day to mr mommy shorts!

June 17, 2011 at 10:14 AM  
Blogger Alison said...

Ilana is one of my favorite bloggers & Mommy Shorts is like my daily treat - seriously!

Ilana, this is such a sweet tribute to Mike. He sounds a lot like my husband in the first 6 months where he didn't breastfeed, didn't change a diaper and didn't get up in the middle of the night for the kiddo.

And today? He put him down for a nap for the first time. No tears, no drama (from Monkey or me).

The parenting does even out. Thank goodness.

Thanks Shell for having Mommy Shorts here!

June 17, 2011 at 10:28 AM  
Blogger KSK said...

I relate to most of this! ..And am SO thankful that parenting DOES 'even out!'
Off to check out her blog :)

June 17, 2011 at 10:55 AM  
Blogger Mommy Shorts said...

Mommakiss- you have no idea how many emails I get from people wanting to sell their shorts on my "shorts site".

June 17, 2011 at 10:59 AM  
Anonymous Sara @ Periwinkle Papillon said...

It sounds like Don Draper's got nothing on Mike.

June 17, 2011 at 11:08 AM  
Blogger Anne said...

That was a sweet tribute to your husband Mike for Father's Day! I love when the Dad's try in their own way to parent, backward outfits and all! Once my Mike took our son out to the park and put a diaper in his back pocket.. seriously.. no diaper bag or wipes! But I didn't say a thing.. was just glad he was taking his son out!

June 17, 2011 at 12:13 PM  
Anonymous tracy@sellabitmum said...

Love seeing Ilana here. It is amazing - that as soon as our kids became more active and mobile - my husband took on a much bigger role. How fabulous it is.
xo

June 17, 2011 at 12:23 PM  
Blogger MommyLisa said...

Really nice Ilana. :) My hubby was married before so he felt he had it all over on me. :P

June 17, 2011 at 12:31 PM  
Blogger The Home C.E.O. said...

LOVE!!!!!

June 17, 2011 at 12:41 PM  
Blogger The Sisters' Hood said...

Love a man who can cook - its uber sexy!
Makes up for mine never getting up in the middle of the night, breastfeeding or no breastfeeding ;)

come and link up your first ever post for my blogoversary :) http://bit.ly/mbk7Oy

June 17, 2011 at 1:38 PM  
Blogger Kristin @ What She Said said...

This is so sweet and SO TRUE! Our kids are the same age - you know this - and the same evolution has taken place in our house over time. Leading to a lot less resentment by me, I might add.

And yeah, what's with HIM complaining of exhaustion every morning, when *I* was the one up all might with the baby? I never got that either.

June 17, 2011 at 2:21 PM  
Blogger Jen said...

So sweet. This may be a universal thing...my husband wasn't much help for the first year of all my babies' lives. But he's more than made up for it!

Sweet post :)

June 17, 2011 at 2:37 PM  
Blogger Alexandra said...

I was told to follow Mommyshorts by bellebeandog.

SHE WAS BEYOND RIGHT.

The woman's blog? Please.

I feel like an idjit when I visit her then go back to my barely educable place.

Yes. She rocks it. All the way around.

June 17, 2011 at 3:00 PM  
Blogger Missy | Literal Mom said...

Love. This. That's so much like my husband the first year. I think some husbands are just better with "older kids." Mine's that way. Slightly tentative when they're itty bitties, but once they reach toddler age - such a good, involved dad. You paid him a great tribute today - I'm heading over to follow you now. Thanks, Shell for featuring Mommy Shorts!

June 17, 2011 at 3:17 PM  
Blogger Kimberly said...

What a sweet tribute to your husband! You made me laugh and tear up at the same time.

And yes, it's amazing how parenting evens itself out over time!

June 17, 2011 at 3:34 PM  
Blogger HopefulLeigh said...

That's such a nice tribute to your husband- and how timely for Father's Day!

June 17, 2011 at 5:04 PM  
Anonymous Paula Kiger said...

Baby caveman! Ha ha ha. My hubs does most of the cooking too. Definitely a plus. And he says he has never read my blog. His loss. Happy Father's Day to your "Fan Favorite"!

June 17, 2011 at 8:00 PM  
Anonymous Paula Kiger said...

Baby caveman! Ha ha ha. My hubs does most of the cooking too. Definitely a plus. And he says he has never read my blog. His loss. Happy Father's Day to your "Fan Favorite"!

June 17, 2011 at 8:00 PM  
Blogger Jessica said...

I love Ilana and glad to see her featured here. I have noticed that as my kids get older the parenting does get more equal.

June 17, 2011 at 8:48 PM  
Blogger Heather said...

Awwww.
That was great. I love it that you can poke fun at your husband while still respecting him.
I will check out your blog as soon as I don' thave to help my own spouse with something!!

June 17, 2011 at 9:39 PM  
Blogger Heather said...

Oh your Mike is so much like my SuperHubby from his preoccupation with "his" place on my blog (I tell him get his own) to the more involvment he came into after our children were 1.

Great tribute to your hubby!

June 17, 2011 at 10:46 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Ilana, your husband sounds hilarious. Mine is always saying, "Are you gonna put that in your blog?"
But I usually don't, because it's not a blog about my husband. Although that would be interesting reading.
Happy Father's Day to Mike, I'm really impressed that he can cook.
Really!

June 17, 2011 at 11:19 PM  
Blogger Tiffany said...

What a great friends feature! I love Llana describes her husband and how he says he is a fan favorite! Love this!

June 17, 2011 at 11:26 PM  
Blogger Emmy said...

Aww! What a sweet post. Definitely will have to check out her blog.

June 17, 2011 at 11:43 PM  
Blogger Stephanie said...

LOL Love that the Hubby considers himself a fan fave. Must pop over there and say hello!

June 17, 2011 at 11:52 PM  
Anonymous Melinda said...

Count yourself very lucky indeed. That's cute he enjoys his spotlight! :)

June 18, 2011 at 2:17 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Aw, what a graet post. Going to go follow her now. =)

June 18, 2011 at 4:42 AM  
Anonymous strugglingforeverafter said...

I am a fan... Great post. Nice tribute for Father's day.

June 18, 2011 at 8:07 AM  
Blogger Babes Mami said...

Nice. Great that he has grown into it!

This makes me think I should write a father's day post.

June 18, 2011 at 8:37 AM  
Blogger Grumpy Grateful Mom said...

Sweet post! I'd never thought of it that way, but I guess the roles do even out, mostly.

June 18, 2011 at 3:28 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

That IS sweet, although you can definitely see the humor in there. I never thought about the difference in adjustment time to becoming a parent but it rings true.

June 20, 2011 at 6:36 AM  

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