Super Dad

Wow. This whole "working for a living" thing is no joke. No. Joke.
When I get home at the end of a work day, I just want to collapse and stare at the wall for a little while, but when you have two kids that just isn't an option. Especially two kids that you miss like crazy the whole day.
Work. Dinner. Play time. Bath time. Bed time stories. More bed time stories. Kisses goodnight.
It's exhausting, and it leaves very little "me time."
It isn't all bad. Working is actually very rewarding for me. I like my co-workers. I enjoy using my brain. And the kids grow and learn and surprise me every day with how much they grow and learn.
At 3 years old, Michael is already talking about how when he is 4 he's going to go to "big" school, and Nicholas is pretty much saying a new word every day.

September is a very busy month at work. It's our fiscal year-end, which is especially hectic for the team and I in accounting. We've been working a lot of late nights as well as Saturdays, which means I'm not home a heck of a lot. That's been really hard for me, but I'm lucky that the daycare is in my office building - at least I can go see the kids when Luke comes to pick them up at the end of the day. And I'm still dropping them off in the morning before I have to start my work day.

I always knew Luke was a good dad. During baby-hood, he changed his fair share of the diapers, was always willing to help out with bottle-feeding when I wasn't nursing, and had a special knack for calming a cranky baby. We dubbed it "The Nook," because he would sit on the couch, and tuck the baby into the nook of his arm/hip/leg, jiggle a bit, and - *wham* - baby would settle right down. Luke had infinite patience and pep during Michael's potty training, and I'm sure it will be the same with Nicholas. He's an equal partner in post-dinner clean-up, bath times and bed times.
This month, though, Luke has gone above and beyond with the Super Dad bit. Since I've been at work a lot of evenings, he's been at home with the kids by himself. He's made them dinner every night - AND THEY HAVE EATEN IT. This is a Big Deal. My kids don't tend to eat a lot at dinner because they eat so much and so well at daycare, but mysteriously they are suddenly eating entire meals INCLUDING BROCCOLI when my husband feeds them. I'm a bit jealous.

The boys are having a blast with him, too. They go out for walks most nights, and Michael is learning new tricks on his trike. They have elaborately choreographed wrestling moves. They "body slam," and do "head bonks."

Of course I'm sad that I'm missing all this time with them, but it is also supremely rewarding to see them develop this amazing relationship with their dad. And it's really nice to know I don't have to worry about things when I'm not going to be home. Super Dad's got this.