Of Quality Time

This week has been fantastic.

After four years, my ex and the mother of my children has enough confidence (in me?) to travel overseas (China, in fact) and trust me to be house-Dad with our kids.

This is actually huge. It's been two years in the making and she finally has made it to a place where it can happen.

So, from Monday this week, I’ve been based on the other side of Auckland from where I live.

I have been responsible for the weekly routine. Feeding the kids. Motivating the kids to get ready for school in a timely fashion. Preparing school lunches. Making sure they have all the accessories required for the day - be it for PE, Touch Rugby tournaments, Ice-Skating classes, or gymnastics classes. Dropping them off and not kissing/hugging/shaking hands with them because ‘That’s NOT cool, Dad’. (sigh). Then at the other end of the day, collecting them at the correct time to run them to aforementioned classes.

It’s completely screwed up my routines. I’d like to say that I love that fact, ‘cos they’re my kids, but that wouldn’t be honest.

I’m absolutely fine with it, but I do like my schedule. I don’t enjoy trying to compress a days planning into fewer hours. Oh well. That’s entirely my problem!

One thing of great concern was Miss 7’s ponytail. I’ve never had the need to tie such a thing. People were most helpful. Sharing how-to’s on YouTube for example.

Miss 7 was not impressed and most certainly didn’t want to try this solution. I have a couple more days in which to entice her. I may use the withholding of chocolate tactic.

That being said, I am proud to announce that of the three Dad-assembled ponytail’s, NONE failed. Oh yes.

We have gotten through the week. Homework has been completed. Musical instrument practice has been completed. And there have been no tantrums (by either the kids or me).

I can’t say it’s given me a new respect for my ex. as I already have a great deal of respect for her and what she’s achieving with our children. However, I do have a great deal of respect for solo, working mothers who juggle the demands of their work with the demands of their kids and their kids schooling. It’s not an easy road by any means.

This has been a good experience.

And apparently my kids still love me. This is also good.-S