Last night my husband was out, and didn't get home until just after 7pm. I had decided not knowing for sure when he'd arrive I'd make myself something for dinner and flip through channels - how I came to land on WIFE SWAP is a bit comical. I actually stopped flipping and got up to retrieve my meal when a preview for the upcoming episode came on. Two women, with homes, children and husbands SWAP lives for two weeks. I'd watch the program before, but it had been years. In this episode the two wives were polar opposites! The families were at complete opposite ends of all scales. Hummm this could be interesting.
And my husband arrives. He inquires what I'm watching - a bit puzzled I think that I'm watching such a thing (this isn't my kinda show) as he would like to turn it. I say I wasn't really watching and I describe the preview for the upcoming episode. He looks at me, smiles and says "ohh this could be good". Clearly they've done their homework in knowing how to HOOK you!
We begin watching. The wives are delivered to their new homes on the first day and given a "family manual" to review. The wives in reading it, already forming opinions and stereo types of the families they will be living with for the next two weeks. Again keeping in mind they are as far removed from "normal life" as one could imagine.
It was rather entertaining. There were times when I wanted to smack a wife, kick a husband and hug a child while watching. Everyone struggled with the "change" from their normal and didn't really understand where the other was coming from. The show did do a good job of making a positive turn in the end and someone actually does walk away learning something about themselves or their families, that could possibly improve their own home situation in the end. Which I appreciated!
As we watched I joked with Jeff "We should do this!" He assured me that we were far too "normal" and way too "boring" for any show or producer to even consider us and our family. I thought on it. And I smiled.
I am so grateful that my family has balance! I'm so grateful the my husband and I have the fun of friendship and the respect of parenting from our children. I'm grateful my husband and I have a relationship that works in such a way there is not drama, highs and lows or questions regarding where we stand with one another. Oh it's not always peaches and cream. WE DO HAVE ISSUES! Our issues are things like WHY do you always put the ice cream back in the freezer if there is only one scoop? WHY do the kids always feel they need to have a friend over? WHY is it that mom is the only one who understands when you leave a room turn off the light or dad is the only one who knows to shut the door and not leave it hangin' wide open when its cold/hot outside?
Yep, we've got BIG issues ;)
AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD
I am also grateful that our home is a place where we all work together to make it function and no one feels like they do it all. We have a nice balance of responsibility as we all "pull our weight". I'm grateful our children are mindful and respectful of one another and of us as parents. And grateful we as parents are respectful of our children and mindful of their feelings and situations as well. Ohhh I'm not bragging to say that our family is perfect - We are not. We are however perfect for one another! There isn't a family on this planet that I'd wish to swap mine for.