Parenting Ends Chivalry

I realize early feminism delivered a kick-in-the-balls to traditional chivalry, but my husband and I have managed to hang on to a few old-style pleasantries throughout the years. I do understand our search for equality and independence have sometimes confused men, and they’re unsure if offering to lug a tote or open a door will be met with angst or acceptance. I get it, but I never, not even once, anticipated that parenting would actually be the catalyst for ending certain indulgences I’ve rather enjoyed.

My son and I returned home last night from a two-day excursion to see friends and when I pulled into the garage my husband, Kim, stepped out of the house smiling. He was obviously eager to welcome us home and his eyes sparked at the sight of us.

His expression changed abruptly when he noticed Aaron was in the midst of an emotional break down in the back seat. Kim spotted Aaron’s little sobbing face before I could even shut down the car’s engine, and he went right into daddy mode.

He opened the car’s back door and quickly unfastened the clips of Aaron’s booster seat

“What’s wrong?” asked my husband

“Daddy, I’m really, really missing my star,” explained Aaron through his four-year-old sobs and crocodile tears.

For the last 30 minutes of our road trip, Aaron’s eyes had been glued to one specific star in the sky, but when we turned into our neighborhood he lost track of the shining orb. It was the last straw for my exhausted little guy and he simply fell apart.

Kim gathered Aaron into his arms and began promising future star-gazing adventures. He didn’t even glance back at me as he carried Aaron into the house and closed the door behind him. I was left sitting in the car, seatbelt still fastened. There was no hello, no welcome-home kiss for this wife, no offer to help reclaim a suitcase from the trunk, and certainly no chivalrous opening of the door while I dragged our bags back to their rightful spots.

No, dear friends, it’s not professional endeavors, finance or even attitude that has apparently ended chivalry in my home ... it’s parenting.