Going Out of Town for 5 Nights, Ways to Help Hubby

I'm sorry, but...REALLY? It sounds to me like you are doing MORE than enough to 'help' your husband. How old are your girls? Why hasn't he learned how to do any of these things on his own yet? IMHO, he shouldn't need your help to take care of his children, but maybe I'm just a big ole B, lol ;)

WHAT?? Your hubby is a big boy and I am sure he is more than capable of taking care of himself and the children.

Are you trying to make him think they can't survive a few days without you?

It is more than enough to have the house clean and kitchen stocked. Think of it as an adventure for the children AND hubby... He will be able to walk in your shoes a few days and the girls will get to spend some quality time with dad!

I personally wouldn't do anything. He's a grown man, he can figure it out. Besides, it'll be fun for the kids to see dad "learn" how to take care of them himself.

Well...looks like the jury has convicted you of doing too much for daddy.. I did the same thing once when I was going to be gone for a weekend. I was leaving dad home with 3 yr old son. I had meals ready, house cleaned, and several sets of clothes laid out so he would have pants and tops and socks to go together.( Gosh I was leaving Friday afternoon, and coming home Sunday afternoon. How many times was he going to need to dress him?)
So before I left I took him into the boys room and said, here are his clothes, all matched up and with stuff that goes together. Laid on top of the dresser neat and tidy. He mumbled, yea, yea, ok fine, whatever....
I went away, and had a great time. Came back Sunday and my son was dressed in shorts and a top that I would normally have never put together and not the choice for the weather. I went into his room and there on the dresser sat all those outfits perfectly stacked and neat, not touched at all. When I asked him why he didnt use the stuff I put out for him, he said, "gee that stuff was all stacked so nice I thought it was for something special so I didnt want to mess up your "system""... lol.. so much for trying.
What I think you can do is make sure the laundry is done, and the drawers neat with all the choices and let them do whatever they do. I love my husband so much, but it makes him feel like I dont trust him or think he is incapable of being a good dad when I take over everything.
The others have given you great advice on what to have written down, and if you still want to lay out their clothes its fine. But it just makes them feel like you have no faith in them. Have fun on your trip!

I think you will be doing enough to help out. I think sometimes us moms, (I'm definitely including myself in this) don't give our husbands enough credit for what they can do. I go over every little thing before I leave the house and I could just be going for an hour. As for dinners, one week of not so healthy food won't hurt. I wouldn't want fast food every night, but I would look to the freezer section of your grocery store. I would get the Stoffer's lasagna's and other premade dinner meals. I would also suggest that your husband do take them out for a date night with dad. Let the kids pick the restaurant and what they do. It will be a nice memory for the kids and dad.

I think you're doing more than enough too! The only thing I would do if I was to leave the kids and hubby for a few days is make sure the emergency numbers are listed clearly on the fridge (including pediatrician, dentist, your friends number, etc.), give him the medical insurance cards, laundry, and buy some frozen lasagnas and/or pizzas and plenty of easy snacks. Theres nothing wrong with your daughters eating fast food a few times or wearing mismatched clothes for a few days.

My husband has the kids one day a week while I work, and I love coming home to our 3 year old wearing a blue cinderella shirt, with pink floral pants and (if I'm lucky!) her hair up in a sloppy pony tail lol. Our 7 year old dresses himself, but i 'approve' what he wears before we leave the house. My husband took him out last week in camouflage shorts and a bright orange t shirt with a lion on it lol. Although I'm sure my husband would wear something similar if I approved ;)

The important thing is they all have fun and be safe while your gone. Your husband seems like a great guy to stay with the kiddos while you have a mini vacation! Show that you trust him and let him parent. have a fun trip and relax!

LOL, I understand where you're coming from ;) As long as the food is good to go, maybe make him little reminder notes and instructions... other than that, don't expect things to go smoothly, and do expect him to call you asking silly questions ;) My husband's like a big kid... if I leave for an hour to go to the store, you'd like it was the end of the world. As much as he whines, I know he IS capable, so rest easy :) HAVE FUN!!

My 1st concern would be safety. Guys are clueless about certain things. I would put poison control and all emergency numbers on the fridge, along with a few contact numbers for backup sitters, just in case. Be sure all chemicals are put up.

Write out the girls schedule - what time they need dropped off, picked up, what day is soccer practice and what equipment to take with.

Maybe go ahead and set up a free evening for him. Arrange a sitter one night so he can go bowling or something. Just so he is refreshed and relaxed with the girls and doesn't start to get frazzled.

don't coddle him! he's a grown man and can deal with this. he's their dad, not babysitter. catch the laundry up, buy the basic foods, make a schedule of any planned appointments/classes, then go with an easy heart. if you are close to a babysitter and can arrange a night free, then great. if not, he'll live. if you are close to a family member that he can call with an emergency then great. if not he'll live.

i go away every year for atleast a few days. i've never done more than the above for him. i have come home to a slightly messy house (but no more messy than when i am home) and 3 people who are happy to see me.

oh and the kids love it if you call to talk to them when you are away. they can get lonely for you otherwise and you for them. have a blast!

I think you are doing plenty!

If you want to precook, do something like lasagna which will last at LEAST two dinners (and leftover lunches) that can be paired with bagged salad from the store.

Easy meals for him to make: spaghetti (boil noodles, throw in some sauce, not hard!), taco's, mac and cheese (with various additions: broccoli, tuna fish and peas, hotdogs, chili (for a chili mac)), or chicken noodle (or tomato) soup and grilled cheese. Plain pb&j or turkey sandwiches or rollups are also easy. Kids like pancakes for dinner. And I, personally, would budget for at least one daddy-daughter night out to eat. Maybe he'll do dinner and a movie with his 'dates'!

You didn't say how old your girls are. If they have gymnastics, ballet, dance, soccer, basketball...whatever.....make sure that you write down what time those things start and stop. Write down the pediatrician's phone number. I don't really have any suggestions for dinners because I would leave that up to my husband. It may mean that they are eating cold cuts, tuna, and chicken....and I am okay with that. Your husband is a big boy, don't coddle him. If he decides, as the parent, to take the kids out every night while you are gone, than that is what he decides. That's okay. May not be what we would do, but dads parent differently.
Enjoy your vacation!
L.

I hate to cook and this is what we do. My kids love the flat bread pizza's from the grocery store, which is always and easy meal one night (or take out pizza) with some kind of fruit. We also likes the rotisserie chicken from the grocery store with a steam-bag of rice and a steam bag of veggies. We get take out Chinese at least every other Sunday. Luckily my kids love pasta, so we eat a lot of that with a salad and some steamed fish (I buy frozen filets that we microwave in a glass dish covered with cling wrap and a bit of bouillon). Sounds like you have the rest of the stuff already taken care of. I think he will be just fine, although be prepared that he will do things differently and the house may look messy when you get back. I go to Europe to visit my family yearly and hubby and girls survives just fine BUT the dresser drawers look like everything was just dumped in (nothing folded), the laundry was done "as needed" so a load of 10 pair of underwear or 4 t-shirts was done when he ran out, the counters were sticky and lots of stuff was out on them instead of put away, etc.etc. More annoying for me than having any effect on them. Enjoy your time away, and this will be a great bonding time for dad and the girls. My girls love their daddy because he is a lot more easy going and doesn't stick to a schedule, but it seems to work for him. I prefer my kids well rested and fed on schedule to keep from being a short order cook all day long and get some rest myself after a certain hour.