Two Weeks Without My Kids
I tend to not blog about what happened yesterday or last night. I find that waiting a week or two gives me time to really parse an experience and examine it in depth before I share it with the world. I’d rather grow and evolve and become more self aware than simply rant or dish on the latest.
So you may not know that for the past two weeks I’ve been without my kids. They’re on vacation with their mom, and they return this weekend.
Let’s just say, I’m more than a little batty.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had my share of fun these past two weeks. I’ve gone on some dates, met friends for dinner and coffee, gotten in tons of cycling.
I’ve also had my share of alone time. Yes, I know I can head to a bar or coffee house and get my fix of people. Maybe even hit on a hottie single woman or two. But I really love when my kids are around.
I love hanging out with my children and taking care of them. Even if they are out till all hours with friends, forgetting to text me, I like knowing they’ll sleep in their beds in my house that night. I like cooking for them. I like grunting at them and making cocoa for them at breakfast. (I’m not exactly bright eyed and bushy tailed in the morning; definitely more of a night owl.)
So I will be happy as a clam when they are back in my midst.
Oh, and it will be nice to have someone else take out the trash and clean the toilets again. (Haha – welcome back, kids!)
- Parenting is a Contact Sport
- Raising Girls is Easy
- Giving Back Starts Young , a Dad’s House post nationally syndicated by McClatchy
- A Dad Watches His Daughter
- Single Parent, Empty House, Full Life
- Where do Jon and Kate Gosselin Live? In Denial
- Why am I so Tired? My Kids Did All the Work
- Tit for Tat Coparenting
Flickr photo by Scott’s Spot, CC BY-ND 2.0
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Comment by Paula
| July 3rd, 2009
Good dad (patting head warmly).
We always felt the same way about our kids. My daughter, who is 21 and has her first place w/ boyfriend 20 miles away, calls me at least 3 times a day.
Our 23 year old lives ‘next door’ in our summer house.
I still like date nights, but family days are the ultimate bomb.
I always wonder why people have kids if all they’re going to do is dump them where ever they can whenever they can. Really sad for the kids.
Paula´s last blog ..My Little Pussy
Comment by Just me...
| July 3rd, 2009
Oh, what a good daddy!!! :)
Perhaps you could give ‘daddy classes’ to the ones that, well, aren’t such good dads? But, the ones that truly need it probably wouldn’t think that they need to take it anyway…
Glad your babies (albeit almost grown) will be back on the fold soon!! :) :)
Just me…´s last blog ..Options…
Comment by MindyMom
| July 3rd, 2009
Aw, how sweet. I don’t know how DBD does it – go so long between visits with Little One. (now twice this year)
When my older kids are gone it’s usually only a week at the longest but I’ve gotten used to it. And with my daughter going to college in the fall I’ll have to get used to longer amounts of time! I know I’ll miss her a lot.
With my youngest I can barely stand to be away from her for a day! I think as they age it gets easier to let go for longer periods of time.
MindyMom´s last blog ..What a Week!
Comment by debra
| July 3rd, 2009
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE when my son is away with his Dad….for about 24 hrs, then I want him back! Not because I’m worried about him, or because I’m afraid he’s not having a good time, but because I feel like I’m walking around without a major appendage! It throws my energy out of whack, two weeks…..I can’t imagine.
Enjoy their return, and getting back to being ‘happy as a clam’!
Comment by Paula
| July 3rd, 2009
Having kids who are 21 and 23 I’ve learned one thing, when one flies the coop, the other returns!
A week or two I could handle, having them move to another state or country? not so well.
Where is everyone? On vacation?
Paula´s last blog ..Firecrackers for the Mouth: Eat ‘em and weep
Comment by krn
| July 3rd, 2009
Awwwww, sweet Dad. No wonder your kids sound so great. Enjoy every minute with them this weekend.
Wow– on the cleaning toilets. That’ll keep them grounded. ;) I may have to print this for future proof that other parents make their children do even the very least favorite household chore.
Comment by Sandy
| July 3rd, 2009
Nice that you feel that way. I hope you’ll tell them all those things when they return!
Sandy´s last blog ..Funny Foto Friday
Comment by Sandra
| July 3rd, 2009
Glad they are back, I hope you got laid while they were away, lol.
I know, I’m crass. I said it.
Here’s to enjoying the rest of your summer with the kids.
Sandra´s last blog ..I’m not your normal douche bag, I swear !
Comment by Barry
| July 3rd, 2009
When the world questions if single fathers can also be awesome dads, they should read your last post. Many just find it hard to believe we feel this way.
Even though it was difficult at times, I feel very lucky to have had full custody of my 3 kids for the last 9 years. Having them wake up in their bed every morning was an awesome thing.
Barry´s last blog ..Internet Dating 101 and How I Met My Wife
Comment by Cathouse Teri
| July 4th, 2009
There is one thing I remember about the time when my kids were old enough to go out of town and visit their grandmother without us. The oddest feeling. EVERYTHING STAYED RIGHT WHERE I PUT IT. And there was LESS housework to do because, even though they weren’t there to help they were also not there to mess it up. This was a cool and very odd feeling. Of course, I missed them. But remember, I had been a stay at home mom since I was 21 years old. And for six years of their lives, I taught them at home.
I absolutely loved raising children. But from 21 on, every waking moment of mine was spent taking care of them, the house and their father. I’ve never been one to look forward to the day they were five and could go to kindergarten. Irks the hell out of me when I hear parents say that. (And right in front of the child!) I’ve also never been one to look forward to the day they turn 18 and are of the house. My kids are my kids until the day I die. I happen to know that at 18, things really get tougher in many ways.
But man… I know what it’s like to live alone… and I love it.
Cathouse Teri´s last blog ..Hauling Ash
Comment by Queen Lindsay
| July 4th, 2009
My ex just had my son for two weeks also. I couldn’t understand why I was depressed and then I finally put my finger on it..my son gives me so much joy and purpose..life is so lonely without him. He lights up my life and I always knew this but it was just confirmed when I went without him for two weeks.
Queen Lindsay´s last blog ..Top Reasons Women Fake ORGASMS!
Comment by Solo-Dad
| July 4th, 2009
When Little Elvis leaves for a few days, I’m like Queen Lindsay in a way, not depressed but not normal either. The first day is spent dong things to distract me. By day two I’m usually in a good place. It just shows how important they are to our daily lives.
Solo-Dad´s last blog ..Solo-Dad Gear @ CafePress
Comment by Vinomom
| July 4th, 2009
I definitely enjoy my freedom when the kid has a night away, but an extended stay puts me off kilter! I just feel odd when she is not around, and I can’t stand to come home to an empty house. So when Haley is gone at my parents for 3 weeks coming soon I’ll be keeping super busy!
Vinomom´s last blog ..Still Here For Now
Comment by Sara
| July 5th, 2009
This is all so sweet. I’ve yet have kids of my own, but a friend of mine says “I had no idea I would be *in love* with my kids.” And it sounds like you are all in love with yours too.
Can’t wait!
Sara´s last blog ..Tampax Wants Men To Have Periods
Comment by Alicia
| July 5th, 2009
What a sweet post! And thanks for sparing us all the rants and raves – we much prefer your thoroughly digested examinations! I haven’t yet been separated from my 2.5 year old, and I’m sure I’d feel odder than odd when and if that day comes. Welcome home Dad’s House kids!
Alicia´s last blog ..Made for Each Other?
Comment by Me Thinks
| July 5th, 2009
I’m not sure I could manage 2 weeks. My kids have one 1-week vacation a year and while it is great – I get out of town and do adult vacation – the whole time I just miss them so much. Then inevitably I feel horribly sad we don’t have a complete family to share our vacations together. But the time alone is good for me and them, just makes me wish there was some in between.
I haven’t seen my kids since Thursday night – I was out of town and had a nice weekend but tonight back home alone and there is not even the dog here. Ugh, I hate it. Bet your kids are back by now and you are catching up. Sweet post.
PS I love that you wait to blog about things, it shows in your writing that you have perspective.
Comment by cellogirl
| July 5th, 2009
Mine come back on Wednesday after a week away, and though I can tell already I won’t have the list done of things I wanted to accomplish while they were gone, I will be glad to have them back too. Farmer’s Market! A movie in the park! Neighborhood breakfast! It just all isn’t the same with out them.
One interesting thing I find every time they go away is my own new personal head space I’ve gained since they left. I find that the time away from them always makes a stronger, healthier me in one way or another.
Comment by ilinap
| July 6th, 2009
Awwwww….this is awfully sweet. And to think that Lollie woman thinks divorced dads are heartless partying assholes. Your kids are lucky to have you.
Comment by katherine.
| July 6th, 2009
have you started studying how to get through your first one going away to college?
you’re gonna need the year…just sayin’
katherine.´s last blog ..down by the Boardwalk…down by the sea-ee-ee
Comment by The Exception
| July 9th, 2009
My parents just left after nearly two weeks of visiting. For me this was a vacation of sorts and yet, it is always rough on my daughter and me as we truly miss our together time. I can’t image spending two weeks without her.
The Exception´s last blog ..Through the window