You know what it boils down to? To not knowing how to channel your emotions.
She had a very hard day. I know it since she doesn't stop to yell at me and blame me and basically looking for what I did wrong today.
My son got home from a program. Looked like he had a bit of sun burn. My wife asked me to give him dinner (before he got home) but seeing that he is all hot I decided to give him some drinks and a Popsicle. I couldn't even talk to her about it since she was sitting on the computer, avoiding everything that is going on in the house.
"Why did you make this stupid mistake to give him popsicle instead of dinner?" she started asking when she finally got up from the computer.
"When you would stop calling my decision stupid I will explain to you" I said as calmly as I was able to pretend.
"Because you are such a control freak and always need to have your way" she yelled straight back to which I didn't even reply.
Kid's been out in the sun all afternoon. Drink and a popsicle makes sense to me. Did so for my kids when we came in from the pool at 4 pm last weekend. My son will only eat red popsicles, God love'em. They got 'dinner' at 5. Zero impact on their appetite.
She was looking for something to b!tch about, end of story.
Had he served up duck confit and risotto, she was going to have something to say about it.
Kid's been out in the sun all afternoon. Drink and a popsicle makes sense to me. Did so for my kids when we came in from the pool at 4 pm last weekend. My son will only eat red popsicles, God love'em. They got 'dinner' at 5. Zero impact on their appetite.
She was looking for something to b!tch about, end of story.
Had he served up duck confit and risotto, she was going to have something to say about it.
Wrong. Women don't like men who cannot be counted on. Tossing your kid a drink and a popsicle would fall under that category.
Wait, did you say duck confit and risotto?! Swoon.
"Why did you make this stupid mistake to give him popsicle instead of dinner?" she started asking when she finally got up from the computer.
Come on now! The answer to this one can lead to loads of fun.
You reply, "I needed a diversion. The neighbors said your fangs were showing when you got home."
My wife hates that one most of all.
The more typical one is to reply with a question, "Did you forget your pill today? You know there's a full moon, don't you?" This one relieved us of a whole set of Pfaltzgraff plates that I hated.
Of course, I am just joking. Thankfully, I learned that these lines were counter-productive early in the marriage. We agreed that comments like 'stupid' or 'idiot' were never acceptable in our discussions. I don't think you need to let this go, but make sure that you are also willing to work on some basic rules for communication. Through a counselor, you can help her learn to see that barking at you because she had a bad day is inexcusable.
BTW- Fathers are allowed to give popsicles when the kids have a hard day. It is our domain. They will be so juiced with energy that they run and spin like a whirling dervish, ulltimately retreating back to a state of exhaustion, and sleeping like a lamb. If mothers learn of this babysitting tactic, we're screwed.
For the record, I don't see this as a fitness test. This is plain old miscommunication.
However the subtext of her asking you to get him dinner while she surfs Facebook (you imply something similar, so clarification would be good) is most definitely a fitness test.
More importantly? The subtext here is way beyond a popsicle. She doesn't value or respect you ... at all.
"I saw a show on how giving kids Popsicles before dinner makes them crave more healthy food during dinner. Google it on your computer biatch."
I give my kids ice pops all the time (whenever) in the summer. We sit on the porch and drip it all over the place and then spray the hose to clean it up. Those small ice pops are only like 50 calories a pop. I don't think it's going to spoil dinner!
Wrong. Women don't like men who cannot be counted on. Tossing your kid a drink and a popsicle would fall under that category.
Did you never learn anything from Bill Cosby?
Kids equate popsicles to cooling off. Then, they equate fathers to being cool, like a popsicle. Its only avoiding responsibilites if we're not there to catch them when they're climbing the walls, and they faint from sheer exhaustion. An eight foot fall leaves a mark, you know? That's when we feed them proteins, like tuna, to revive them before the Mom comes home.
Another "fitness test" as you guys call it 
