Sunday, May 18, 2008

The question of the Mow

So last Saturday we had a lot going on. Just like yesterday Saturday and just like the Saturday two Saturdays ago, and like the next two Saturdays coming up. Hub likes making lists of all the things he wants to accomplish in a day, and which I am strongly against because then there is actual proof of what DIDN'T get accomplished since I'm one of those glass half-empty kinda girls, and on the list was mowing the lawn. There were also other things on his list which involved using tools and physical strength and things where I'd get my hands dirty, so when I got a chance I figured I could help dwindle down his list by mowing the lawn. At which he got embarrassed and said something to the effect of, "But it's Saturday! Everyone who drives by will know I am home and wonder why my wife is mowing the lawn!" But if you know Hub, he really didn't say it with exclamation points. That's just how I like to relay it. But this issue comes up year after year and I would like to open it up for a discussion topic. Who mows the lawn at your house and why?

My feelings have changed over the years. Girls and boys in our home both mowed the lawn while growing up, though I never once saw my mom do it. Then I remember thinking it a little funny that my oldest brother's wife (shout out to you Sher ) mowed the lawn before they had kids big enough to do it. Then I got married and when we bought a house it was just one of Hub's jobs. But then life got busier and he got busier and it just didn't make sense to wait for him to come home to mow the lawn while I still watched the kids or for him to do it on Saturdays while I still watched the kids or to expect him to mow the lawn and watch the kids at the same time. Because that, my friends, is called multi-tasking and men can't seem to do it in the family environment.
So it just has become easier for me to do it during the day while the kids are already outside playing. Granted, this is not the most time efficient way as I am constantly having to stop the mower to wrestle kids apart or to push someone on the swing or to pick up all the toys that just got thrown in the way, but it sure beats having Hub come home and having to do it late in the evening or on already busy Saturdays.


Plus, did I mention the great exercise it is? I burn way more calories by mowing than I do by doing dishes. So there you have it. I mow the lawn out of my own choice and not because my Hub makes me or won't do it eventually (though it apparently hurts his pride). In closing I have a picture of my legs. I figured if E could do it in her tanning post, I could do it in my lawn mowing post. It's hard to see but this is two-day-old evidence of the burn I got just on the back of my legs from mowing in the middle of the day.

And then I ran across the next picture, which would have solved all my tan line problems. If only I would have mowed the lawn dressed like this:So sorry if this picture offends anyone. I just couldn't resist!

11 comments:

cold cocoa said...

I feel the exact same way. My Hub mowed the lawn yesterday and it was a 2 hour job! Had I done it (minus the blowing he likes to do after and extra beautifying)it would have been 45 minutes. I like to knock that chore off their list if I can to allow for more important uses of solely MAN chores. I do feel funny, as no other ladies in the 'hood do it, but I feel strong. My favorite is mowing when prego. The stares!

The Allreds said...

I applaud women who mow the lawn, it shows we have "grit."
As for the bathing suit idea. I'm afraid YOU'd get way too many gawks than even a prego mower would! I'd hate for one to be my husband (or son)...I vote for the capri farmer tan : )

Reg said...

Most often Holli mows the lawn (including her parent's next door). However I do it just enough to keep the neighbors fooled. Just this week a former member of the stake presidency walked by and complimented me for taking such good care of two yards. At that very moment Holli was mowing in our backyard.

hOLLIANN said...

Well, as Reg stated, I usually mow the lawn...what else am I going to do for fun? And for added danger and excitement...I do it in my flip flops.

Rhonda Can't Help You said...

I also used to mow the lawn- and I had almost as many brothers as you did. I think it's something about teaching children to work. i don't know...

TisforTonya said...

hmmm... I tried to mow the lawn once, maybe twice, but it turns out that my grass allergy is a lot worse around freshly cut grass, especially if I'm the one cutting it - so around here it's all Quinn, all the time. Now that the boys are getting bigger they've pitched in a few times, but being that we have such small patches of grass, the whole job is about 1/2 an hour. (before the trimming, blowing, and extra beautifying, but that usually only happens once a month)

Diana said...

how embarrassing! i was reading your blog with dad for some harmless sunday afternoon fun---little did i know we'd soon be viewing some woman's hiny! don't worry too much though---I quickly explained it wasn't yours!

LC said...

What better way to get some sun and excercise and work done! Heck yah girls can mow the lawn! Keep the capris on and use that stuff erin uses for the rest of your legs.
I mowed the lawn plenty growing up. I only wish I had some grass to mow now. Nobody that sees a woman mowing her lawn is negatively judging her husband. They are probably not even noticing unless that woman is wearing that thing from the last picture.

lkm said...

The very next morning after my "people will see you mowing the lawn on Saturday" comment I was told by a neighbor that they noticed wife mowing the lawn and wondered how I got her to do it. I guess I am just lucky! But, so much for nobody noticing.

Do you work out, cause you got GREAT calves!

hOLLIANN said...

I love the new picture...Ike has camo on his body for every occasion. T is a man that digs the camo - one day I will have to put a photo of everyone's favorite outfit - the one that they dig through the laundry to wear...but not today.

DKAZ said...

Hubstar and I were looking at your blog and I wished you would've told me or warned us at the beginning of the soft porn to come. I would've been ready at the end to cover his eyes! Wa, wa, you have to do some of the guy jobs. You'd thought you would've been doing that a long time ago with the four babes you have. I learned a long (LONG) time ago that if I didn't take care of the trash it would just overflow and STANk till I did. But I guess, I just have a lot of things figured out!