Daddy’s Boy

Since back from vacation and work vacation (I mean Seminar) I have tried to get up earlier than my kids so that I can get some work done before they bring the noise to my life.

So far, The Middle One has been awake before me every day.

He is pretty self-sufficient. We lay out cereal and bowls and he pours his own drink. He (mostly) leaves me alone until the allotted hour where I leave my desk to be mom again.

I was flattered at first because I thought he wanted some sibling-free time with me. Then I realized that was not the case at all.

I stumbled out of bed to remind Kevin to lay out cereal boxes and I heard Middle One telling a very animated story about Sponge Bob.

He was up way before me-in time to catch his dad.

When we moved here Dad went from working out of our basement to commuting 90 minutes each way into The City. In Maryland he used to sit at the dinner table (most nights) and ask each kid about their day. Now, he is gone before the kids wake up and gets home either just in time for bedtime or after they are asleep. At dinner the Middle One has added to our prayer, “God Bless dad on his way home.”

It’s a little different.

It kills dad but he has made the weekend a contact sport. He jams in more fun with those kids in two days than I even knew possible. He has redefined quality time and it has made everyone better able to handle the changes.

Mostly.

On vacation the only temper tantrums came at the end when TMO realized dad would go back to work soon. He cheered out loud when Kevin announced he was leaving his laptop at home that week. Apparently, my mama’s boy is quite a dad’s guy too. He needs time with his dad or his day (and all of our day’s as a result) is just not right.

If it means he has to wake up before the birds to tell dad about SpongeBob-I’ll take it.

Our days run a lot smoother when dad is involved.