The weekend I left Dad in charge

I’m often left mortified when I see a look of delight cross my children’s faces after I reveal I’m vacating the house for a couple of days.

While I wish I could shrug it off, I’m irritated that they don’t realise my constant nagging, non-stop worrying and endless demands could be a little easier to deal with if they just ‘manned up’ a bit.

Or maybe, just maybe, if they listened to me the first time around, there wouldn’t be a need for me repeat myself ad nauseum.

Think, kids. Think.

Anyway as I left the house last Friday evening with a few dismissive waves from my brood, I knew they’d soon realise that I am in fact a very important cog in their lives.

Yes, Dad will let them stay up late, have pillow fights throughout the house and flood the kitchen all in the name of fun, but I, on the other hand, keep things ticking over with rules and regulations.

Monica from Friends once said, “Rules help to control the fun!” and the sooner my kids realise this, the better.

I tried to put the goings-on at home out of my mind while I spent the weekend with my sister, but I knew without doubt that I’d be returning home to all manner of madness and I'd be the only one to sort it out.

Turning the key in the lock on Sunday evening I was met by four bright-eyed and bushy-tailed children. Lunches were made for the morning, uniforms were ironed and no one was missing a limb.

Noting my less-than-subtle dismay that everything has ticked along just fine without me, my husband leaned in and whispered; “If it makes you feel any better, I’ll burn down the house next time.”

I really need to get over myself.