My son totally threw me under the bus

That’s my kid tossing me under the bus.

They say children begin to identify with their same-sex parent somewhere around the ages of 5 to 7.  Personally, I’ve been waiting for this day.  As the SAH/WAH Mom I’ve been the primary caregiver and it’s about darn time The Hubs should have to navigate the inquiry minefield I face each day.

It’s his turn to fumble his way through conversations such as this one:
Mom, how many grains of salt do you think there are in the ocean?
I’m not sure, honey.  Too many to count.
More than a million?
Yes, way more than a million.
More than 100 hundred million.
I would assume so.
More than…
Oh my gosh there are lots! Lots and lots and lots! Let’s just go with lots, OK?!

Truthfully, I planned on The Talk being the first Guy Conversation Hubs would have with the boys.  I couldn’t wait to finally use, “Ask your father.” But we all know how that conversation went down.

Little by little over the last year or two, however, Daddy has certainly become the focal point of my boys’ attention.  I’m certainly not the one that inspires cries of joy and a sprint to the front door upon returning from, well, anywhere.  And when I am away from home no one is asking The Hubs to text me to see when I will be returning. When I do go out, I’m lucky enough to receive several texts with inquiries about what I will be making for breakfast the following morning or emails seeking permission to purchase an app or song for the iTouch, though. I’m so very very glad I taught them to text and email me.

I understand the lack of allure of the Dad Factor.  I’m there when they wake up.  I’m there when they get dropped off at school.  I’m there when they are released from school and it’s not a rare occurrence for them to see me on campus throughout the day.  Let’s just say I’m always there.  Always.  There.  It makes sense that Daddy is an exciting circus side show.  He comes and goes at unpredictable hours and absence truly does make the heart grow fonder.  Therefore, I will be leaving at the end of the week for a month long vacation in Paris.  Sadly, I’m kidding.

So while Daddy is definitely the “fun parent,”  at the end of the day, when they are plagued by bad dreams and there are injuries to be nursed to back to health, it’s Mommy’s side of the bed they come to.  That’s how it’s supposed to be and I’m cool with that.

What I was not prepared for, however, was the day one of my sons, a proud member of Team Daddy,  totally threw me under the bus.  But that day came this summer.

July of 2012 was our inaugural trip to Lake Tahoe for a family vacation.  The 4 Willenbergs (and the Keurig) packed in the Family Truckster, hit the road for a 10 hour drive to Northern California to spend a week of sun and fun.  It was a wonderful trip.  We rented kayaks and paddleboards. We cruised the lake on a pontoon boat.  There was rafting down the Truckee River, fishing and  our fill of yummy food.  And to commemorate our wonderful trip, my wonderful husband purchased me this beautiful mug…

I love it! It’s perfect. Just like my man.

Isn’t it lovely? The perfect way for me to revisit the peace and bliss of our family vacation every morning.

So when we returned this year to beautiful Lake Tahoe I sent The Hubs out to discover Tahoe Mug 2013.  And he returned with this…

It says “Lake Tahoe” How cute.  It’s a bit “The hills are alive with the sound of music” but I love that he picked it out just for me.  Way to go, Babe!

Though I only had coffee twice during our vacation this year, I did so with a smile on my face and my new Julie Andrews-inspired mug.  Thanks, Babe!

But all good things must come to an end and it was time to bid a fond “Auf Wiedersehen” to the fair Lake Tahoe. (That’s German for goodbye and German is what they spoke in Austria where The Sound of Music took place- trust me.  I Googled that shit.)

As we pulled out of town we made one final stop: Starbucks.  ‘Cause mama ain’t doing no 10 hour drive with 2 kids without some caffeine in her system, ifyouknowwhatimsayin’

As I waited in line for my venti Americano with light cream and one raw sugar I noticed this beauty sitting on the shelf…

Oh, it’s so pretty! My precious!

And I had to have it.  This was not a frivolous purchase, I can assure you.  You see, I love the “You Are Here” collection of mugs offered by Starbucks. I already have this one…

Starbucks mug from Scotland? Check.

And this one

Starbucks mug from Kuwait. Checkity-Check!

I also had one from London but it was tragically lost in a dishwasher emptying accident.  It’s still painful to talk about.

So this beautiful purchase was necessary.  It was imperative that I buy the Starbucks Lake Tahoe mug! Are you with me!? I thought so.

Luke, however, was not down with my mug plan.

Mom, are you buying that mug?
Yes, honey. Hey look! Muffins!
But didn’t Dad already get your Lake Tahoe mug for this year?
Yes, but I like this one too.  Who wants a Cake Pop for breakfast?
Don’t you like the mug Daddy got you?
Yes, I like it.  I just like this one better. It’s cuter and doesn’t have all those flowers on it.
Oh.  You don’t like flowers? 
Eh, they’re not really my thing, ya know?
Oh, can I have 2 Cake Pops for breakfast?

And we went on our merry way.

Until 10 minutes later when Hubs looks down and sees the brown Starbucks bag.

What’s in the bag?
Oh! I bought this mug.  Isn’t it cute? It totally goes with all my other Starbucks location mugs.
But I already bought you a Tahoe mug for this year.
I know.  I just thought this one was cute too. Would you like a Cake Pop?
Are you saying you don’t like the mug I bought you?
Of course not! I just liked this one too.  Yummy yummy Cake Pop, honey?

And then my Daddy’s Boy decided to chime in and completely throw me under the bus.

Um, that’s not what you said in the store, Mom.
Eat your stupid Cake Pop!
What did she say? If you tell me, I will take you to Toys R Us and buy you anything you want.
Really? She said she totally liked this mug better than the one you got her.  She said it was better because it didn’t have all those flowers on it and flowers aren’t her thing.

*gasp!*

Give me back your Cake Pop. It’s obvious where your loyalty lies. You are dead to me.

Needless to say,  Hubs still refuses to make me a cup of coffee in the traitorous Starbucks Lake Tahoe mug and I spent a good portion of the trip home on the receiving end of Hubs’ stink eye. On the lighter side, this particular mug has also been the subject of many photos texted to him throughout the day.  Mwahaha! And it my love for the mug inspired this beauty:

 

 

 

And look what I found at Starbucks late last week…

You know, in case I forget where I live.

I no longer live with a couple of mama’s boys.  They are all Team Daddy now.
That’s just my normal.