Don't argue with Mama

You'd think after almost 16 years of parenting our girls together, that I would have picked up on the fact that Hubby is not quite as sentimental as me when it comes to the kids, nor does he have quite full memory bank that I have. So I'm not sure why it shocks me, when we are reminiscing about their lives, that he has absolutely no clue what we're talking about. It makes me wonder if he was even conscious during the early years of those three little human lives he helped create?

And I'm not talking about the little daily things that I wouldn't expect even myself to remember, but I'm referring to the big things, like, ohhh for instance, how we decided on each of their names. Ya know, that thing that would be permanently attached to them for eternity, as well as be reflection of us and our family. A couple Sunday's ago, the girls were asking me over lunch how we came up with their names and I went about recalling every little detail of the naming process. I rambled on and on about the lists I made after reading through Baby Name books and how we would discuss the sound or spelling of certain ones, or if it would cause nicknames or not, etc.

All the while, Hubby just kept quiet, oblivious to our conversation, wolfing down his Sunday lunch while I recalled to my girls how I suggested this baby name or that baby name, and how Hubby would say, "We're not that (name) kinda family," or "I don't like how it flows with Morgan," and so on, until we both finally settled on the names they have today. After hearing the all options we'd had for my middle daughter's name, she blurted out that she wished we would have chosen one of my original options that Hubby had shot down 13 years ago. With some irritation, she interrupted Hubby's lunch and asked him why he didn't like the original name I offered to him all that time ago. In which he replied, "I don't know what you're talking about. I don't remember any of that." She asked him how we came up with her name and he again he had no recollection. She looked at me, like, "How could he NOT remember naming me?"

Then he began to argue with me that my memories of all this were incorrect. Trying to defend himself in front of the kids, maybe in attempt to spare their feelings, I don't know and insisted, that he did indeed, remember this process long ago and how I was explaining it was not exactly on point. Now, instead of trying to win, I held my tongue, but what I wanted to belt out was that I bet he can't tell me when and where each of them took their first steps, or what their first words were, or who their Kindergarten teachers were. I know for a fact, he doesn't know what time each of them were born, or what the weather was like that day. Shoot, he can barely keep track of their birthdates.

THAT'S what I wanted to say, but I knew better. But I know that's not Hubby's job and I know that's not his role so I can't fault him. He's protected and provided and doesn't have to keep track of all the little details of their lives, and that's okay. Having those memories of their childhood is something I treasure and want to hold onto, and am happy to be the one who knows them. I just wanted him to know to never argue with Mama when it comes to her babies. I do know and will know everything, and if I can't remember exactly, I know where to look cause most likely it's recorded in their baby book. Sorry, Hubby!