Tidy Husband

The End of Days

August 14, 2025
The End of Camp, That Is.

Wow. That went by fast. Seven weeks of summer camp all used up in no time. She had a great time for all of it and we picked her up today because there was a thought that she might win an award of camper of the week, but because she doesn’t listen as well as she should due to her being in her own head - there was no award.

You have to pay attention to get an award.

there’s a story about these flowers so keep reading..

We had to make up our own celebration and we went out for ice cream to celebrate where she got a huge smores something ice cream blizzard. It sounded horrible and too sweet for me. She couldn’t finish it all, it was too much.

She was sad to leave camp because that means she has to say goodbye to her friends so she just wanted me to take her to the car. Goodbyes suck at all ages, so I understand it. We are going to see if we can make some arrangements to play with her new best friend, Diamond.

After dinner she put on her shoes and played outside and then came to the door with the look of fear in her eyes as she showed BW the rose petals on the ground.

“I was just admiring them, and the leaves fell off” she told her

BW told her it was absolutely fine and she was not in trouble at all.

You should have seen the look of relief wash across the child’s face. She though she was done for.

What does one do with a handful of rose petals? Re-create a wedding on the front stoop with your wife while your child pitches rose petals at you, that’s what. ¹

I can’t think of a better way to end her summer camp.

Nothing says the end of summer like ice cream and wedding reenactment on the front lawn complete with rose petal tossing.

Tomorrow, a road trip for the child and I.

Stay tuned…

Tidy Husband and Co.
1. and the neighbors thought we were weird before.. ↩
Permalink
It's Never Good When it's Quiet

August 13, 2025

If it’s quiet, they’re up to no good.

She’s right at the age: When you realize that you haven’t heard from the child in a bit and…then she comes downstairs and now you know why:

She came downstairs saying “Hey, I want to do a fashion show!”.

Oka….what happened to you!?

She tells you that she didn’t have any of her kiddo nail polish left so she helped herself to mom’s stash.

OKAY then. She got a bit on her paw patrol dress she had put on for the fashion show but whatever. We had to explain to her that she wasn’t in trouble but that the nail polish in the cupboard is for MOMMY and NOT YOU

And then we went out on the back deck and had the planned fashion show where all three of us has to do poses and then stand on the podium she made with the numbers 1/2/3 on them and of the winner would get to stand on number 1.

And guess who won? She did!

It was the painted nails that clinched it.

Until Next Time,

TH and Co.

Permalink
Should I Stay or Should I Go?

August 12, 2025

A story about mixed emotions. Also: Chickens.

Part 1. The Morning

This morning was a little different than usual

Photo by Matt Seymour on Unsplash

Instead of having her wake me up it was the reverse as she was a late sleeper. Maybe she’ll learn that those late nights will catch up with you eventually and your body needs a reset.

Anyway, It was the usual morning with getting everybody breakfast and out the door as we don’t want to be the last one to arrive at the camp because if you’re the last one you have to stand in front of the whole group and do the chicken dance. I think this is hilarious but believe it or not there has not been any need for the chicken dance on our end.

Speaking of chickens, we had the radio on this morning and the DJ was telling us about a new world record: The oldest chicken. Her name is Pearl. Of course she thought that was hilarious and I did not think I would be talking about the age of chickens but there you have it - chickens.

When we get to camp I heard something I didn’t think I would hear from the child and I was totally unprepared for it:

“You don’t have to walk me to camp Dad - just put my backpack on”

And with a quick kiss she was off. She doesn’t need her old man anymore.

bye dad (sniff)

So that happened. I thought I would get until at least 10-years-old before I would embarrass her enough that she doesn’t want to be seen with her old man but there you are.

Of course, I stood there and watched until I knew she was there safe and sound and acknowledged by a staff member. You might be too big for a walk to camp, but I;’m still your Dad.

Part 2. The Evening

The evening was the opposite. She was all about Dad when Dad could have used a minute in his own head, but nope - BW got a package delivered today and it came with bubble wrap so we had to have a bubble wrap challenge that involved pointy sticks and poking the bubble wrap. It seemed kind of dangerous.

Later, BW wasn’t feeling well so she went to bed and it’s been up to me to get the dishes done, kid to bed, etc. This would not be a problem if I didn’t have both a needy child and dog in the house at the same time.

One just wants to be pet at all times and the other was hell bent on having some soccer challenge in the front yard (OMG, the challenges). This is all fine and dandy but I’m up to my elbows in dinner dishes and the plants need watered and lunches need to be made.

I told her that she would have to entertain herself outside until I got things under control inside. Seems easy enough yes?

“Dad? Are you Ready?” and then two minutes later I hear the front door again..

“Dad?, the challenge is ready”

I know, I just needed five more minutes, I told her.

“Dad? Are you ready?”

OH Hell, I’ll let the dishes soak. I then go outside for all of five minutes of the soccer challenge, where I continue to get the stuff done while she putters around outside.

Today ended up being at both ends of the popularity scale today. In the a.m. she didn’t want anything to do with me and this evening I was man of the hour between the hours of 5-8pm.

And I learned that the average chicken lifespan is between 5 and 8 years old.

Unless of course, you’re Pearl.

Until Next Time,

TH and Co.

Permalink
The Harvest

August 11, 2025

Have a Tomato. Please.

At the beginning of the summer BW asked me when at the plant store to grab a few tomato plants so we could plant in our little garden. It seems I misunderstood what a “few” mean and so now that we are entering peak harvest season we’ve got a surplus.

Also if you look closely she has a pin that reads “it’s my birthday”. It’s not her birthday but we bought it for her birthday and she found it again today so what’s old is new again and she pinned it on her pink little nightie.

She came home from camp so dirty today. I sent her nice and clean and she was covered in dirt and she tells us she had a dirt battle today. That would explain it.

But I sent her to camp clean as can be:

off to have fun.

Tomorrow, is her last field trip of the summer and she’s going to a water park so hopefully she won’t come home as dirty tomorrow.

Until Next Time,

TH and Co.

Permalink
Everything is a Challenge

August 10, 2025

The House Always Wins

Last night the child declared that she wanted to make her own breakfast so we talked about what we needed to get ready for her so she could reach it and get things somewhat prepared…

And then we totally forgot all about it and went to bed.

Photo by The Design Lady on Unsplash | the end result looked nothing like this.

Of course, this did not stop her from wanted the challenge:

“Dad, wake up. It’s time for the breakfast challenge”

I opened one eye and staring back at me was a little fresh sun-kissed face with bed head who can’t wait to start her day. I can’t say no to this so I get up and stumble to t the kitchen for this challenge.

Here’s the rules of engagement. We each make a different breakfast of our own and then sit down and each take a bite of each other’s and declare a winner. This is all before I have had coffee or can see straight so it’s taking dear old Dad some time to get his act together.

Once that’s done she declares it’s time to start. She got her stool out and stood in front of the fridge and dragged out the OJ. She poured it herself and it was the last of it so it was an easy pour without mess for Dad to clean up afterwards.

Up next, was the entree: A peanut butter sandwich. She found the bread and I helped her with the PB because it was a brand new jar and still had that freshness seal on it. But she spread the PB on while telling me how much PB is too much and too little.

“Oh, I need more than that. Silly me”.

Me? I tossed some dry cereal in a bowl and called it good enough as I was more interested in the challenge of staying awake without coffee in my bloodstream.

We took both our breakfasts to the table and then she took a bite of mine and I took a bite of her carefully folded sandwich.

She thought about it for a second and then declared that she was the winner.

Challenge over, right? Nope.

Up next was tooth brushing, then sock-putting-on-ing and shoes on - all these things needed to be challenges to see who would do it first.

I don’t know how this happened but she was the winner for all the challenges this morning. Go figure.

But Dad won the ultimate challenge tonight: getting her to bed at a good time without any fuss or anything - just straight to bed and out like a light.

That’s what he calls winning.

Until Next Time,

TH and Co.

Permalink