The Fun Parent

Over a year ago, my friend, Claudia, made an off-hand comment about why my kids like me so much:  I am the fun parent.  She meant this is in a good cop/bad cop kind of way.  When I asked her about her comment, she said that John was the not-as-fun parent (aka mean parent), and I am the fun parent.

Believe me, I have never seen myself that way, being the one who has made the kids run 3 miles a day, or practice for hours each day, or pushed them to finish their Eagle projects, or threatened them with jobs in fast food if they didn't score well on the SAT.

Anyway, something I know about Claudia is that she sees things clearly.  Like, I wish I could always get her opinion about the happenings in my life, because she's a correct and honest sounding board.  Her thoughts about my children's musical lives have been invaluable, being a seasoned musician herself, and I know that I can go to her when I need advice.

But the fun parent?  Surely this couldn't be.

Well, as I have thought about his over the past little while, I have come to realize that she might be right, darn it!  While John was the fun parent when the kids were little, wrestling with them and taking them to the park, I was the one that enforced every rule.  Our roles have reversed as the kids have matured.  John is the one now enforcing many of the rules, while I am ...  well, there is a lot of fun to be had with the kids.  Don't get me wrong--if you've spent any time with John, you know he's a party, but I run a close second when it comes to the Fabulous Four :-)

This weekend, it's just been Johannah at home with me, and we have had a ball.  School was dismissed early on Friday because of a storm, and it was cancelled completely today.

We've worn crazy, comfortable outfits, and done crazier things with our hair.
Yes, that IS a high ponytail, Johannah (who is admiring her reflection in the oven door). 

We've locked our fat, lazy cats out of the house because we're tired of scooping their litter box,
and we've laughed at them from the comfort of the warm, cozy house.
Don't they look miserable?

Eating out everyday, watching more romantic comedies than we should, sleeping a lot, and not doing much of anything.  It's definitely been fun.

Tonight, after going to Outback for steaks and hamburgers, Johannah wasn't feeling so well.  I can only imagine what a responsible, mean parent would have done.  Me?  I solved this problem while at the grocery store with Hannah, buying four different pints of Ben & Jerry's, with a bottle of Maalox:

Yes, I like being a fun parent, although I couldn't be it without the support of my wonderful, responsible, fellow fun-loving husband :-)