New meaning to the word "Homecoming"

When I walked in the door after a 10-day trip away from my family, the first thing my spouse said to me after a kiss hello was “We’re out of bread.”

With a grocery store within walking distance of our house, a fully stocked fridge upon my departure, and ten days away from my family, really?  That’s the first thing you want to say?  How about a “honey, how was your trip?” or “Supplies are low, but I’ll run up to store tonight for you – you’ve been traveling for 15 hours.”

I know being the parent who gets left behind while the other spouse is traveling, isn’t easy.  It’s hard to be the one that has to hold down the fort.  But good grief is it really that hard to go to the store to pick up a few items?!?

Before I can get worked up over it, I suddenly remember that time when I called him from the airport to remind him to stop at the store for a gallon of milk on the way home (totally forgetting to ask how his trip was first).  Parenting sometimes doesn't bring out the best in us.  And no buts about it, being the parent that stays is WAY harder than being that parent that goes. 

I know that my spouse didn’t intend for the bread comment to be so blatant.  He was merely stating a fact.  When I checked the fridge and pantry, we were out of more than just bread.  We were out of everything!  No eggs, no milk, no fruit, no meat.  What had they been living on?  I suppose they brought new meaning to the bachelor pad - one dad and his four year old living alone for ten days.  I half expected to see our microfiber couch replaced for one in black leather. 

Since I do the majority of the cooking (his specialty is micro-waved hotdogs.  seriously.), I don’t even want to think of what they’ve been eating since I been away.  As far as I could tell, they’d been living on cheese sticks and saltine crackers for the last couple of days – that’s all that seemed to be left.  I looked at him and laughed.  I knew that he missed me.  A lot.  And his stomach missed me too. 

We made a family trip to the grocery store and stocked up once again on all the basics.  After our shopping trip, daddy cooked dinner.  It was hotdogs.  And they tasted mighty fine. 

Tonight I’ll be cooking my first meal since I’ve returned.  Sometimes homecomings don’t go as planned.  Still, I’m happy to be home.  Even if there are still dirty socks scattered all over...

Original post to the Silicon Valley Mom's Blog. 

When Robyn isn't making last minute trips to the grocery store, she blogs about her life as a working mother at Who's the Boss?