No, that doesn’t mean that you have no authority and have to check everything with your mate. But with fathers taking a greater role in the house and family, it’s more likely that something’s going to occur when your mate isn’t there and that’s liable to create some hard feelings.
Some things are uncontrollable, such as first steps or first words and if you miss it, that’s life. Other things however, are controllable and some consideration is advisable. My gold standard was my eldest’s first bite of solid food, which occurred while I was in the restaurant bathroom; I returned to find that she’d been given green beans in my absence, so that I was unable to enjoy the sight of a six month old munching on a bean. It wasn’t a big deal in the great scheme of things, but it was irritating and it sticks in my craw more than a decade later.
This particular case in point is this morning’s invitation for the youngest’s first sleepover at a friend’s house. I personally have no objection and will permit it, but am going to run it past the mother to assure that she has no concerns and at least has had the courtesy of a check. And to be on the safe side, I won’t mention anything to my youngest until the matter is settled.
And that’s another story…