Everyone knows about happy hour, that time just after work when you can unwind with a beer and your friends. In my household, we have just the opposite, the unhappy hour. Unfortunately this usually happens right around the time I get home from working on www.free-singles.com. I’m tired, and it couldn’t happen at a worse time.
Here’s the way it typically goes. I get home at around 7 most days. I’ve worked a long day, as has my wife, and both kids are home. We’re ready to eat, or getting ready. That’s when it starts to break loose. I’m not sure why, but Curtis often starts to get a bit fussy right around then. After that, Celeste starts to get antsy and want attention. Two kids need us, but we have things to do like feed our faces. Celeste doesn’t want to sit at the table with us, so she’d like to get up and play.
A tradition before kids was to sit at the table and enjoy some wine and conversation. We still try to do that, but the kiddos make it quite the challenge. It makes that short window at home for me when they are awake quite frantic.
The toughest part is that I really want to enjoy this time so much, but it often ends up being a disappointment. I’ve been working hard and I just want to have fun, but the tension level gets raised pretty fast.
I’ve been reminding myself that “it’s just a phase.” Curtis will get over his brief fussiness and be more interactive at the table. Celeste did precisely that, so I know it will go away sooner than later.
As quickly as the unhappy hour began, it ends. As we start to give the kids baths and get them ready for bed, things calm down and get much more pleasant. It really makes me wish we could move that unhappy hour to some other part of the day.
Tags: balance, dinner, evenings, happy hour, kids