This morning I was sitting at the kitchen table with Madison. She grinned and announced, “Yesterday Daddy made me a cocktail.” I assured her that Daddy would never have made a cocktail but she insisted. “He even split a grape and put it on the cup!” I immediately ran upstairs and asked if our 5-year-old would be joining AA in the near future.

If I were in the Army, I would be known as “General.” I’m a disciplinarian and hard-core when it comes to manners, challenging oneself and healthy eating; my Mom was not. Sure, she was very strict and I always felt like I wasn’t living up to expectations, but sometimes I feel like Jillian Michaels…on crack. Too bad I have her attitude and not her body. Just sayin’.

My husband is somewhere in the middle. If I’m “Queen of the Castle” he is definitely King…well, of mediation anyway. He doesn’t take crap and he knows the entire routine…oh, and he keeps my reign in line as well. I think that’s why Madison respects him so much…because he can keep up with it all. On top of that, he’ll play “patient” on an early Saturday morning or “student” on any lazy evening. I envy him. He can break character and he is loved for that. Some evenings I can’t even crack a smile. On some nights I feel like I should have a mustache and speak German. And I’ve never even tried Wienerschnitel and potato pancakes.

I keep thinking it’s DNA. After all, Asian mothers are known for their stalwart parenting and “you can do better than that” attitude. I can’t do math, but I have “plain face” down pat. Oh, that and gardening…and maybe, on occasion, a mismatched ensemble or two. I just can’t figure out how to switch from “Oh that is SOOOO great” to “to the chair, Missy”. I feel like Mrs. Potato Head, minus the extra accessories.

I think that’s why today was such an important day. Celebrating Father’s Day reminds Dads all over the world of the things that Moms just can’t seem to figure out how to do. I mean, we figure most things out. Or, at least that’s what Jeff always says. In most cases we’re like McGyver for every occasion. Need a band aid when there’s not a Walgreens in sight….? Have a Kleenex and a piece of tape…? Wah…LA! Dads have a lot to try to keep up with and sometimes I think they throw us a bone to keep us guessing.

“Food Network was spotlighting a cocktail and Madison asked for one. I couldn’t tell her no so I just mixed apple juice and fruit punch, and then put it into a fancy cup.”

Perhaps it is us Moms who have a lot to try to keep up with. Perhaps we are too busy raising eyebrows and questioning sometimes, that we don’t see that our husbands are one step ahead of us… Well, sometimes.