A Smoothly Running Household

My best friend's husband is stationed in Iraq for a year. He'll be home in May. You would expect her to be a wreck with him gone, but she actually has everything running just fine. It's hubby coming home that she's worried about. She has everything running just the way she likes it, and she sees him as a wrecking ball about to hit her life. It's not like she doesn't want him home. Obviously, she wants him to come back. She's just concerned about "Hubby Meets Wife's Schedule--Two Lives Collide!"

I understand this well obviously since I talk to her a lot. I'm not over there asking "are you ok?! How do you do it!?" like others do. We've done this before and gotten through it fine.

So it's been my turn to have hubby gone. He extended, so in all he'll be gone about 8 days. We'll see him Sunday. So now instead of just watching it, I'm living it.

You know, I know exactly what she's going through. I understood it intellectually, but now I have the same reaction to my husband coming home. Scriptures and prayer are at 8:30 sharp, everyone is tucked in and lights are off at 9 PM, I get an hour of "Me" time, get ready at 10, and I'm in bed by 10:30 or 11 every night. I'm awake about 6:45, kids are up at 7-ish, and we're out the door by 7:45. It works like clockwork. It's amazing what you can accomplish in one week.

So now the kids are on a routine, I'm used to getting my way (my shower head doesn't get readjusted every day, clothes stay out of the bathroom, the vanity stays dry and doesn't constantly have water spots), and hubby's coming home on Saturday night. AHHHH!

I've already warned him that there is a schedule in place and walking into this home will be an experience. I've warned him to not mess it up, and that I will continue the schedule if he wishes to participate or not. He's not quite sure about all of this schedule stuff. I mean, this is Mr. Genius Inventor who can't ever do something the same way twice. Every time you do something, you're supposed to think of a new way to do it, right? So the idea of a schedule to him makes him want to run and hide.

The question is: Did I scare him into living in NY with his sister (I hope not!)? Or will he choose to come home to a house with a schedule?

The saga continues...