Typical IM from my wife #2

Another example of the cryptic communications that come from my wife while I struggle to put food on the table.

Instant messaging chat session…

AwesomeMom: You working from home tomorrow right? I need to know

BadDad: y

AwesomeMom: good — I need to grocery shop in am, J party in pm (1) Can bring J to store when E at school and E can come to party but not sure if A will go to school looking worn — may be good idea to keep home and then let him go Friday right before break… Still want to finish Saturn in case he wakes for school — either way will probably drive them to school w/ project M can give in if A not going

AwesomeMom: eta?

Funny thing is, to me it all made sense. Made my head spin for a minute while I stopped everything to decipher. But it made sense. It simply meant…

• Some other kid is having a birthday party.
• One of my kids is sick.
• A school project to make a model of the planet Saturn is due at school on time, no matter the cost.
• When am I going home so she can go to sleep.
• My wife will one day be a raving lunatic when she doesn’t have a house full of men to take care of.

Yes, my wife and I actively IM, whether I’m off at some work location or even when we’re in the same room.

Example: It’s hard to get privacy in my house. The other day while our four rug rats were scurrying about and fretting about Furbies, Bionicles and Superman, my wife and I we’re “communicating” about what presents to buy for their respective upcoming birthdays.

Awesome Mom was at her computer. I’m at my laptop. We’re literally 15 feet apart, talking in code words, spelling words out and IM’ing details we couldn’t say aloud.

Only once did a little stinker suddenly take notice and say, “did you spell out c-a-m-e-r-a?” (One of the presents we were considering.)

What are your interpersonal dynamics like at home? Please share.