I Take That Back...

My husband is fabulous with kids. I always knew he would be from the start.

You know, the way they dote on animals, treat them like people. He will admit to having full conversations with his dogs growing up.

These days he has endless talks with our cat, Loki...what she did that day, how she's feeling, if she'd like the sink turned on to drink. Nevermind that it might still be running 3 hrs later because he forgot. The cat is spoiled.

Getting back to kids. Rich adores our children, plays with them, makes up songs, reads books, you name it he's done it....I could not be more blessed with a partner to share in the joys and challenges of parenthood.

The hubby has been traveling A LOT. I'm not exaggerating to get sympathy points here....he's been gone Sunday evening through late Wednesday every week for the last three weeks.

We have the daddy leaving drama of Nora calling ''Daddy come baaaack, don't gooooo! I miiisss youuuuuu!..no, no, no come baaackkkkk!''

Then we have the 2am bedroom visit with squealllllll...''DAddy! You're back! I LOOOOOOOVE you!'' There insues a whole conversation about what she's been up to for the last three to four days while he's been gone. Rich will groggily have this conversation while she snuggles into the bed. Yes, indearing, but not so much at 2am.

It's all the time in between leaving and returning that really gets me exhausted, frazzled, and tired. Don't get me wrong, most of it is filled with great moments that are etched in my memory for when I'm old and grey. I send Rich endless youtube videos and cellphone picks to keep him informed of the happiness he is missing. The end of some days finds me cuddled down on the couch with a good book or my laptop and a couple drinks...one for each kid.

The class of wine or amaretto usually falls on the last day with the kids, when I start fantasizing about my own business trip or time away.

I'm serious, there are days that I crave an escape. To feel the adrenaline rush of a deadline or the calm of the drive home with the sun setting. I'm somehow jealous that Rich gets to come home and slip out of work clothes into jammy pants and tshirt, to feel the last remnants of the office leave you....yeah, I'll be the mom over here with erp and cereal on her gym shirt. Not quite the same is it?

Rich understands that I want to be more than just a mom in this life. That's not an insult to anyone that truly sees that as their calling, it's just not 100% what I want to do for the rest of my life.....So Rich hears this during our morning commute....

''I need a job! It would be a vacation from this!''

This is as Nora is whining in the back seat about the 12 thing that is making her sad or frustrated today and it's only 10:30am.

''Well hon, if you can find a job that makes 'X', I'll stay home with the kids''

''Yeah right. What's wrong baby?''

''My tummy hurts''

''What's she complaing about? I can hear her''

''Yeah, Nora just threw up in her carseat. ''

''What!? No way, she three up?''

''Yep, oh God she threw up again. Gotta go home and take apart the carseat. I'll talk to you later''

''Um, hon. I take that back. The thing about staying home.''

''I see, little barfing gonna scare ya off? You know that's in the job description''

''I forgot about the fine print. Yeah, deals off'.

Ok, so he's fabulous until there's barf involved.