Childcare for Husbands CH1
AnonymousRobin
2023
Author note: I don't normally do multiple chapter stories so this is a new experience for me. I think it works and I have at least two more chapters drafted. Feedback welcomed.
Chapter 1 - Reality, A plan is formed
Lisa and Christine have intertwined their lives across multiple facets. Five years ago, soon after both were married, they moved into the same neighborhood. They developed such trust that Lisa recruited Christine into her law firm.
As their careers developed, Lisa's husband Brian started a business with Christine's husband, Steve. Brian and Steve frequently travel together for business and pleasure. The four of them built a tightly woven life as exhibited when Lisa and Christine both became pregnant in the same month and subsequently gave birth within a week of each other.
The family business was going well but did require significant time from both Steve and Brian. Luckily the women were secure at the law firm and were able to negotiate an extended multi-year leave of absence with a guarantee of return. This allowed Lisa and Christine to stay at home. Even with all of life's blessings, the reality of parenting exhaustion soon set in.
As the babies grew into toddlers, Lisa and Christine found themselves reviewing their current situations. Most mornings would begin with coffee at one of their houses while the girls napped. These times before crawling were special. Once the girls became mobile, the mothers needed to constantly chase and gather them.
"God I miss sex", Lisa contemplated. She was remembering a time when she had looked forward to sex at the end of each day "I miss exciting and raunchy adult fun."
Both women had worked hard to restore their pre-birth shape quickly. Their intentional exercise routine was possible when the girls were still young and their husbands spent more time at home. At this stage, the men's focus returned to work and their now mobile children sapped much of their remaining time or energy. Their sexual desires unfortunately emotionally returned before their body energy was available.
Lisa nearly cried thinking Christine was handling motherhood better than her. Christine apologized profusely. Obviously she wasn't doing any better than Lisa. Both loved raising their daughters together and were grateful for the opportunity to stay home without sacrificing their careers. At the same time, they never thought one child could exhaust them more than a ten-hour day at the office. As they shared stories, they both recognized neither was superwoman in terms of household management.
"Seriously", Christine confirmed, "I can be horny all afternoon, and once Steve comes home and we sit down for dinner, I'm ready for bed. It doesn't matter if my mind wants sex, my body says sleep."
Lisa felt the same. Sex with Brian had restarted slowly but more than once a week was daunting. Brian, and likely Steve, were patiently waiting for the frequency to build back. "And when I say I am tired, he offers to take us out to dinner. He doesn't understand how tiring it is to go out and be entertained. Children are hard enough to corral at home. Trying to entertain her in a public restaurant is ridiculous."
They recognized how their husbands were more patient than they had hoped. Both women longed for physical intimacy with their husbands. They had confidence it would return someday, but they couldn't be sure when. The men were busy enough starting the business, yet they gained energy from their wife's attention. Whereas the women, who equally want their husband's attention, expended more energy than they created in response.
The kids woke from their morning nap and the women gracefully gathered their things and returned to their homes for the afternoon.
-- Part 2, a possible plan --
That evening each couple had a similar conversation over dinner. How was your day? How are you feeling? When can we get time alone together; which is obviously a code for sex? Dinner was cleared and the kids were put to bed when Lisa asked Brian to stay in with their daughter while she visited Christine alone.
Christine, even while ready for bed, jumped at the opportunity to walk through the woods with Lisa. No kids, a glass full of wine, and just an unusually warm January evening under the trees. Lisa, being the planner, brought an agenda.
"Christine, I've been thinking of something all afternoon. Remember this morning when we both longed to be either a mother or wife at separate times? Can you envision being happy in each of those lives?" Lisa has a habit of thinking big broad life visions.
Lisa had casually thought out loud about enjoying being a mother, and a wife, but less sure about both at the same time. Grateful for having a supportive and present husband, she never wanted to be a single mother. Yet each role was more than full-time. She missed looking forward to Brian coming home at the end of every day."
Christine admitted to not being excited for Steve to come home. "I hate myself for it. I want Steve to come home, and I want to want sex with Steve..." Christine paused just a bit.
"But those evening hours, even if we could stay awake, they just take more energy than I have." Lisa finished Christine's thoughts.
They sat on an old log once they reached the prairie on the other side of the woods. Lisa pulled out the unfinished wine bottle from her bag and refilled their plastic cups.