Since my wife and I are both educators we tend to share our time off. The winter break was a time filled with fun for our entire family. It was a period of happiness where our little family was able to spend the entire time together. Some car trouble and nine months of hard work nudged us toward the decision to forgo the thousand mile trek to spend with our families. While we certainly missed everyone we were grateful for the much lower stress levels involved with NOT packing, NOT traveling, and NOT planning (as much). Our son was very grateful to be able to wake up each morning to both of his parents’ loving arms. Like all breaks, though, the end came much too soon.
Eventually it was time for a return to work and school and responsibilities. Since my semester allows greater flexibility for work on my dissertation I am tasked with caring for our son during the day. While he doesn’t dislike good old Dad he truly misses his mother when she’s not around. It’s particularly painful for him in the morning if he sleeps through the time when Mom takes off for work. Luckily he often wakes up early enough to say and wave “bye bye” after a hug.
Now that he’s older and more aware of the multiple things that pull our family in different directions at times I can see him understanding and processing this information. In the morning when he asks “Mom?” he’s most likely to cry when I tell him “work” if he’s still not truly awake. When he’s awake, however, I’m able to tell him that Mom is at work and watch his little brain listen, process, understand, and then make a decision about what he wants to do now that he knows that information. Sometimes he wants me to pick him up, sometimes he’ll ask for milk, sometimes he’ll point to a ball and we’ll begin to play. His questions were always sincere, but now he can process the answers. We’re looking forward to the next breaks and each weekend morning as it’s nice to have everyone home.