Parenting can often feel like running a complex organization, one where the phrase “Not my department” slips easily into our conversations. It’s a convenient excuse for avoiding certain tasks, but what happens when that excuse disappears?
“Hey, can you help me with my science project?”
“Sorry, that’s not my department.”
“Mom, can we bake cookies?”
“That’s outside my area of expertise—ask Dad.”
Recently, the balance of our household shifted dramatically when my partner took a job abroad for a year. Suddenly, I found myself overseeing every department—an unexpected promotion that quickly highlighted the need for clear task delegation to keep our domestic operations running smoothly.
Shoveling snow? Not my department… until now.
Dealing with a leaky faucet? Ugh, now that’s my responsibility.
Catching critters in the house? Looks like I’ve officially moved into pest control.
The situation escalated last week when my 10-year-old son announced, “I think I just saw something scurry under the couch.” My instinctive reaction was to scream, but I managed to maintain a façade of calm. After all, I was now in charge of this situation.
We presumed it was a mouse, even though my son insisted it didn’t have a long tail. Ironically, we had been the proud owners of two rats before, making our sudden hostility towards a tiny intruder quite amusing. “Get it! Kill it!” my son yelled, standing on the arm of the couch, avoiding contact with whatever was lurking in our living room.
I quickly piled the kids into the car and headed to the local hardware store (a venture far beyond my usual duties). Armed with a two-pack of “snap traps,” I returned home, only to discover that a dab of peanut butter can sabotage a mouse trap. Who knew? After a few days of fruitless trapping, I was beginning to think our little guest had vacated the premises.
That is, until my mother came to visit. While rummaging through my kitchen cabinets, she stumbled upon a scene of chaos: rodent droppings mingling with my fine china. In that moment, I truly understood the gravity of my new role.
“Maybe I’ll just toss everything and start fresh,” I thought. But then I noticed movement in a box of coffee pods. Panic set in, and I realized I couldn’t face this alone. I decided to outsource the problem.
With my sister’s help, we set a trap. My son and my mother’s husband joined the fray, shouting encouragement as we cornered the mouse behind a bookcase. I found myself relieved to hand over the baiting of the trap. The weight of my self-imposed responsibilities began to lift as I realized teamwork could alleviate some of the burdens I carried.
Ultimately, we captured the little intruder, which turned out to be a mole—an unexpected twist that sparked our imaginations. After a short drive to a safe release area, we freed our tiny guest into the snow. Thankfully, we haven’t seen him since. But when the next pest arrives, I know I’ll have to step up again—just temporarily, because it’s definitely not my department.
In summary, the transition from “Not my department” to full responsibility can be daunting, but it also opens the door for teamwork and unexpected adventures in parenting. If you’re curious about more parenting challenges, check out this insightful post on balancing work and family life. And for those navigating their own journeys, you can explore reputable options for at-home insemination kits at Make a Mom and learn more about fertility through Science Daily.
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