I used to think that our household couldn’t run without me.   It’s not ego.  OK, it’s ego.  And maybe some control issues.  But I mean who else knows best when it’s show and tell day, when it’s our turn to carpool to soccer or when it’s Crazy Hat day?

But I recently had some minor surgery, which left me stuck in bed for a couple weeks.  In this time when I was forced to let go of the housework, I had an ego-bruising, but happy epiphany: the Household can run without me.   Here’s what I learned about letting go and letting someone else manage the family for a while:

1. It’s empowering to others:  “Do you know how annoying it is when I tell you ‘I’ve got it’ and you still butt in?” the Hubs asked me.  Actually, I didn’t.  I thought I was being helpful.  I thought that he appreciated my reminders.   But from his perspective, I was undermining what he was doing and his own way of taking care of tasks.   So I learned to let them figure it out.  Because they can, and will.

2. The Kids will live:  What’s the worst that can happen?  The kids may not remember to wear green to school on St. Patrick’s Day.  What’s the best that can happen?  The kids get flexible; they learn to remind Dad about the gear they need, or better yet, pack it up themselves.    And even if all that fails…the kids will live. 

3. Taking a chill pill is more fun than stressing:  Nearing the end of my recovery, I realized I had a choice.  I could read trashy magazines in bed and feel guilty or stressed about the household, or I could do it happily while my husband feeds our kids and folds the laundry.   I chose fun.

4. The more tasks you own, the less others will:  It’s one thing to complain that you do all the housework, it’s quite another not to let others take on responsibility when they offer.   Now that the Hubs has taken on more duties, I’ve learned that my way may NOT be the “best” way to run the bath or that my kids mayn’t be as picky about the peanut butter: jelly ratio as I thought they were. 

I’m on the mend and will soon be resuming household duties.  But this experience has taught me a lot.  The household can run without me.  But only if I let it.