11 Awesome Things About My Husband Being Unemployed
Right before Christmas, my husband got laid off from his job. Even though I’ve been fortunate enough to pick up more writing work, it’s kind of a tough situation.
But hey, it’s not all ramen noodles and crushing guilt! We’re focusing on the positives, like having Daddy home a lot more.
And we’ve actually found, deep under the suckiness, eleven awesome things about my husband’s unemployment.
-
1. Never have to wonder if Daddy will be home in time for dinner
He will be! Because now every night is Family Night. We're exactly like Leave it to Beaver, if Ward was unemployed and the Cleavers could only afford Spam.
(Image credit: Flickr/Wandering Magpie) -
2. There's someone around to appreciate my sarcasm all day
Part of my work involves checking the news pretty frequently, which of course means I need to comment on it all day long. Frankly, the kids don’t really appreciate my take on the Toddlers & Tiaras mom’s lawsuit as much as my husband does.
(Photo credit: imagerymajestic) -
3. He's now taking the kids to school and picking them up
It doesn't seem like this simple thing should have so much impact, but this somehow frees up approximately 6 hours a day for me to work on my freelance writing (or Facebook and napping).
(Photo credit: Stuart Miles) -
4. “Ask your father” is now a legitimate answer to “Can you help me with my homework?”
It takes a village ... to help four kids with their homework. Bonus: math homework assistance may actually lead to correct answer!
(Photo credit: Stuart Miles) -
5.Time to chat
This is the first presidential election year since Bush-Gore that we’ve had time to discuss politics.
(Photo credit: The Daily Show) -
6. Complete lack of spending money really frees up our weekends
Nope, sorry, we can't join you at the mall / aquarium / skating rink / movies / arcade / fast food joint / zoo / soccer try-outs / ballet recital / overcrowded, germ-encrusted children's museum. Darn.
(Photo credit: photostock) -
7. We now stand a fighting chance in the Battle of Laundry Hill
Generally speaking, we're always a little bit behind on the laundry. So much so that eventually the pants might get up and actually walk themselves to the washer in disgust. But with both my husband and I at the task, we're almost like one fully functional adult. Yay us!
(Photo credit: Jeroen van Oostrom) -
8. Kids are delighted with the progress Daddy has made on their Webkinz accounts
Sure, we're not putting anything in their college savings accounts, but he is kicking ass at Tile Towers, isn't he? Oh, like you don't play your kid's Webkinz games. Riiiiight. I see you, "FluffyRainbow12."
(Photo credit: Ambro) -
9. Time alone
Our youngest is only in half-day kindergarten, but that is still two-and-a-half hours. This is clearly more time than we've had alone together in our house in over a decade. And no one said dates have to happen at night, did they? Oh, wait, we're too broke to go out. I guess we'll have to stay in ...
(Photo credit: photostock) -
10. The coveted Mommy Sick Day
When my husband is working, I pretty much have to be either in labor or at death's door to ask him to stay home. But now I don't have to ask him to stay home! He has nowhere else to go. Over the last couple of weeks, I've had both walking pneumonia and a raging sinus infection. Walking pneumonia isn't the serious kind where you are completely down for the count. It's the annoying, feel-like-crap-but-go-about-your-day-anyway kind. But I didn't have to go about my day! My husband did everything, and brought me juice, to boot.
(Photo credit: Jeroen van Oostrom) -
11. He will never again wonder what the hell I did all day
My husband has actually never given me a hard time about the house being a wreck when he got home from work, or anything like that. But I'm still glad that he's getting to see what it's like to get the four kids fed, dressed, and presentable for school every day. He's now participating in our daily routine in an entirely new way, and it's kind of awesome.
(Photo credit: graur razvan ionut)
Read more from Joslyn at her blog stark. raving. mad. mommy. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter for even more funny.
MORE ON BABBLE:
7 Things I Wish I knew About Men Before I Got Married
25 Parenting Resolutions for 2012
25 Hilarious Words About Kids You Need to Know
Real Girl Belly Project: The REAL Stomachs of REAL Women
Real Parents Before and After They Lost Weight
Glad you have found so many benefits!
way to go, stark.raving.mad.daddy!
My husband is in the military and he gets two full weeks off a year (we choose the stockpile the other 15 days a year of leave for emergencies) and it’s AWESOME when he’s finally home to sleep in (7 am is sleeping in for us military families!) and help with the kids and what-not. We’re always broke (sh!t pay for the troops thanks to NObama) so we love the parks and whatnot. I’ll be glad when my husband is out in August. He’s gone 10 months a year every year for the last 5 years. I am SO looking forward to him being home more often. I’m glad other women get to experience and enjoy their husband’s awesomeness, too. It’s great to see women appreciating their husbands instead of just bashing on them publically or making rude jokes.
Give it 18 month and then you can write about the flip side. BTDT.
Unemployment numbers are comprised of those that are in the job market for the past 30 days. It does not include those that have not been in the job market in the last 30 days: people who have given up looking; those that have gone off unemployment because it has run out. One solution to unemployment is High Speed Universities check it out
I think it’s fabulous that you can find a silver lining in unemployment. We’ve known for the past year that in a few months my husband has a good chance of being laid off. So we’ve had time to plan what to do (besides save like crazy.) We’ve got some projects and camping trips planned along with just hanging out with Daddy.
Good luck to you and your family.
We’re on month nine of hubs being unemployed. It gets a lot less enjoyable once your savings run out. Just saying.
Love it!! My husband is a SAHD & it just WORKS! Granted, we don’t have money to just go out & blow, bills get paid, kids are fed & clothed, and NO BABYSITTER TO PAY! It’s great!!
Thanks for the article! I laughed quite a bit. I was unemployed for over 2 years. I wish my ex-wife saw the humor in the situation as much as you do,
When hubby had a day off he goes, I totally get why you come in the bedroom and shut the door! Lol yes it’s nice when they totally get it sometimes!
I have a stay at home husband. I LOVE having him there. I am lucky enough to have a job that will support both of us… and provides us enough money to where we can still do things from time to time. But we’re not rich by any means.
It’s GREAT because he cooks and cleans. I don’t remember the last time I did laundry… I may have actually forgotten how to use the washer and dryer. He ALWAYS loads the dishwasher and tells me to go relax in the livingroom and watch T.V. while he cleans up after dinner, that he cooked. He talked recently about getting a part time job… I told him… ONLY if YOU want to. I love my stay at home husband. =)
Wow lucky you!!!
yes very fun but don’t get to relaxed we need to see you do some things so we can have time for hunting and fishing,and golfing…
What a completely stupid article! NO guy wants or likes to be unemployed– it’s a self-esteem thing. Seems like the author wants to cover Obama’s economic record and unemployment fiasco of over 10% (actual) unemployment for three years running. Why not do a cool article saying how much fun it is to be on and cook with Food Stamps? Or how great it is to be paying twice as much for gasoline now than when Bush left office? Oh and don’t forget to list all the wonderful benefits of losing your home and equity to foreclosure. Spare me!