Someone's been watching The Ten Commandments.

Henry's in a pro-Dad, neutral-on-Mom phase, and I am utterly, completely okay with that. "Only Dad plays right," he tells me, putting a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Oh," I say, and try to look bereft. So I can't sit on the ground and play with guys for hours, is that what you're telling me, son? I have to sit here and read a book or talk on the phone or just NOT PLAY LEGOS while Scott gets all the quality time? I will somehow choke down my disappointment. Somehow.

Scott even won the religion wars. I didn't know we were fighting them, but Henry began and ended the conflict in one devastating blow. Henry and I were talking about his half-Jewish, half-Catholic status, and he asked me, "which one is Dad?" "Jewish," I said, and that was all Henry had to hear. "Then I'm Jewish, too." He kissed me on the cheek. "I love you, but I'm Jewish."

I called the Pope, and we had a good cry over it.

When Scott got home, I told him about our discussion. "What did you decide, Henry?" I prompted.

"That I am a Hebrew," he said, "like my father."

Then Scott muttered something like the metal is ready for the Maker's hand, and they demanded that I set them free, to build their glorious Lego temples to the God of Abraham. Of course I allowed it, for I am a just and benevolent ruler. So it is written, and so it shall be done.

Comments

[chaotic joy]

Oh my younger children often flit in out and out of daddy worship, and I too give a secret celebratory dance when I seem to be low on the totem pole. I much prefer it to the permanently-attached-to-my-leg scenario that is the alternative.

Funny post.

[H]

My son's name ends with a long "o" sound, and he calls his Dad "Daddo" so that it rhymes. He's never called him Daddy - it's always been Daddo. I love that he's made a matching name for his dad, and yes, it's nice not to always be the favorite one.

[jaelithe]

PLEASE let a phase like this happen to me. I mean, my son goes through periods of preferring his father, but they generally only last for three hours or so, and then it's back to all Mommy, all the time.

(Yesterday my son even told his father that Mommy had to help him stick the straw in his juice box, not Daddy, because "Daddies do it wrong.")

[cce]

It's great that your solidly okay with not being the favorite parent right now. I've pretty much never been the favorite parent. Having abandoned all attempts to dress, feed or discipline the kids, my husband is now free to be another child right along with them. Guess who is always the spoiler of unsafe fun and the constant reminder of bed time and teeth brushing and 2 teaspoons of much loathed antibiotic - me. Can you tell that I'm not okay with this division of labor?

[Sparkling Red]

I'm sorry to point this out, but I'm thinking Henry might want to convert back to Christianity when Santa doesn't visit this Christmas to deliver a new shipment of guys and Legos. I'm Jewish, so I KNOW that Santa doesn't bring anything to Jewish kids. I've never figured out if he thinks all the Jewish kids were naughty, or if he is just respecting our parents' wishes.

[Lori]

Since he plays with dad, does that mean that dad cleans up?

[Ginny]

You are hilarious. Thanks for the Postapalooza. I consider it my Christmas gift.

[islaygirl]

i keep hoping for the day when i am not the favorite parent. but as the ex is the man who pays child support and considers his job done, i don't foresee that happening. at least until she nears puberty, when i will not be the favorite, but still be the only one there. THOSE years are going to be interesting. pass the vodka.

[liv]

score one for mom. if there were someone parental like for mine to prefer over me in my own home, i'd so totally run with it. alas, it's an endless stream of mommymommymommymommymommmymommmmy.... well, you get it.

[JV]

This was funny.

[Anna]

"I called the Pope, and we had a good cry over it." :) Brillant writing as always, Alice! Thank you for sharing some of your magnificence with us, and a very happy Christmas to you!

[Marcheline]

Jesus, that was funny.

[Terri]

I'm just now catching up on some blog reading and laughed out loud at this post. I especially liked the line about you calling the Pope. I'm not sure why that particularly struck me as immensely funny, but it did. Thanks for the chuckle.

[uggs outlet]

uggs outlet
UGG Bailey Button
UGG Classic Cardy
UGG Classic Short
UGG Classic Tall
jimmy choo uggs
UGG Adirondack

uggs outlet
UGG Bailey Button
UGG Classic Cardy
UGG Classic Short
UGG Classic Tall
jimmy choo uggs
UGG Adirondack

uggs outlet
UGG Bailey Button
UGG Classic Cardy
UGG Classic Short
UGG Classic Tall
jimmy choo uggs
UGG Adirondack

uggs outlet
UGG Bailey Button
UGG Classic Cardy
UGG Classic Short
UGG Classic Tall
jimmy choo uggs
UGG Adirondack