I want to be nice with Daddy
On Wednesday night (it's Friday afternoon now), Mommy stayed at church for a class and Daddy got to take home Ben & Anna all by myself. Mommy warned me that Anna had skipped her nap, but there she was in a really good mood, so there seemed to be no lastng side effects. But it was getting late.
We all had a great time on the way home, singing with the tape in the car and being very silly. When we got home, we all went upstairs for a quick bath before bedtime. Ben & Anna had a great time in the bathtub, playing with the toys and splashing around. Evertually, Ben let the water out of the tub, and Daddy got both kiddos out to dry off. Everyone was still very happy. Then Anna slipped and fell on her booty.
It didn't hurt much if any, I'm sure, but Anna was tired and her first reaction was an instictive "I want Mommy." Well, Mommy wasn't available. I tried coaxing and cajoling, to no avail. Eventually, I had to pick her up and carry her, naked and screaming and kicking, to her bedroom to try to put on her PJs.
The situation deteriorated, with much screaming and kicking of Daddy's avalable areas. Daddy resorted to a swat on the booty, to no avail. It wasn't hard, but I'm sure that it was startling. First, I must say that all of the stories about "This will hurt you more than it hurts me" are, in general, correct - just not in a way that anyone without children of their own could ever understand. I still feel horrible, and will probably remember it much longer than Anna. Not that I could ever explain that to her - at least not for another 30 years or so.
The spanking didn't work, and I got so frustrated that I put Anna in her bed - still naked - and turned off the lights and left the room. This usually works with Ben, but not with an overtired Anna. A few minutes later, she was out of bed and opening the door to her room.
Eventually, I asked Ben to stay in his room a bit while I went into Anna's and shut the door. I had to physically hold her in my lap as she screamed, kicked, and hit me in the face whenever I tried to sooth her by singing. (Everyone's a critic.) After about 10 minutes that seemed like over 60, Anna started giving into her exhaustion. I put her in bed and patted her head while she continued to cry out softer and softer. When I thought she was asleep - still naked and without having brushed her teeth - I turned off the lights and left the room. I think the door closing woke her up. Fortunately, at just that time Mommy showed up to save the day and get Anna dressed and in bed for the evening.
(I have to say that throughout all of this, Ben overcompensated by being absolutely perfect. He played by himself in his room and even put on his own PJs. I later told him how proud I was of him, and we stayed up an extra 30 minutes playing with Cat in the Hat matching cards in the basement.)
The next morning, Daddy had to leave before Anna woke up. And by the time I got home, she was back in bed asleep. Then again this morning (Friday), she was asleep before I left for work. So, Daddy hasn't seen his little girl for almost 2 days now, and we ended on a pretty low note.
Then came the call from Mommy. She said that Anna had asked where Daddy was. Then she said that she wants Daddy to come home. "I want to be nice with Daddy." She, too, realizes that we left off badly and wants to make up. I nearly cried.
Daddys worrry about silly things, like their little girls never forgiving them. It's more painful that the little girls can imagine. So, when that gets lifed off of Daddy's shoulders, the joy is greater than the little girl could understand, either.
Daddy will be leaving work early today. I have a date with my favorite girl in the world.
We all had a great time on the way home, singing with the tape in the car and being very silly. When we got home, we all went upstairs for a quick bath before bedtime. Ben & Anna had a great time in the bathtub, playing with the toys and splashing around. Evertually, Ben let the water out of the tub, and Daddy got both kiddos out to dry off. Everyone was still very happy. Then Anna slipped and fell on her booty.
It didn't hurt much if any, I'm sure, but Anna was tired and her first reaction was an instictive "I want Mommy." Well, Mommy wasn't available. I tried coaxing and cajoling, to no avail. Eventually, I had to pick her up and carry her, naked and screaming and kicking, to her bedroom to try to put on her PJs.
The situation deteriorated, with much screaming and kicking of Daddy's avalable areas. Daddy resorted to a swat on the booty, to no avail. It wasn't hard, but I'm sure that it was startling. First, I must say that all of the stories about "This will hurt you more than it hurts me" are, in general, correct - just not in a way that anyone without children of their own could ever understand. I still feel horrible, and will probably remember it much longer than Anna. Not that I could ever explain that to her - at least not for another 30 years or so.
The spanking didn't work, and I got so frustrated that I put Anna in her bed - still naked - and turned off the lights and left the room. This usually works with Ben, but not with an overtired Anna. A few minutes later, she was out of bed and opening the door to her room.
Eventually, I asked Ben to stay in his room a bit while I went into Anna's and shut the door. I had to physically hold her in my lap as she screamed, kicked, and hit me in the face whenever I tried to sooth her by singing. (Everyone's a critic.) After about 10 minutes that seemed like over 60, Anna started giving into her exhaustion. I put her in bed and patted her head while she continued to cry out softer and softer. When I thought she was asleep - still naked and without having brushed her teeth - I turned off the lights and left the room. I think the door closing woke her up. Fortunately, at just that time Mommy showed up to save the day and get Anna dressed and in bed for the evening.
(I have to say that throughout all of this, Ben overcompensated by being absolutely perfect. He played by himself in his room and even put on his own PJs. I later told him how proud I was of him, and we stayed up an extra 30 minutes playing with Cat in the Hat matching cards in the basement.)
The next morning, Daddy had to leave before Anna woke up. And by the time I got home, she was back in bed asleep. Then again this morning (Friday), she was asleep before I left for work. So, Daddy hasn't seen his little girl for almost 2 days now, and we ended on a pretty low note.
Then came the call from Mommy. She said that Anna had asked where Daddy was. Then she said that she wants Daddy to come home. "I want to be nice with Daddy." She, too, realizes that we left off badly and wants to make up. I nearly cried.
Daddys worrry about silly things, like their little girls never forgiving them. It's more painful that the little girls can imagine. So, when that gets lifed off of Daddy's shoulders, the joy is greater than the little girl could understand, either.
Daddy will be leaving work early today. I have a date with my favorite girl in the world.
# posted by Scott @ 8/30/2004 07:32:00 PM 
Welcome Back
Daddy was gone again this weekend, and Ben and Anna weren't happy about it.
Cousins Zack, Dylan, and Mary Jordan were being dedicated in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Daddy drove up to see them. It was about a 900 mile trip in 36 hours, and it meant that Daddy was gone from noon on Saturday until bedtime on Sunday. Ben and Anna both told Daddy not to go.
When Daddy got back on Sunday night, Ben was waiting at the door, respendent in long PJs and his puppy slippers. He was so excited to see Daddy. Daddy had to carry him around until long after his bedtime. Daddy looked in on Anna, but she was going to bed. She just smiled at him and rolled over.
Ben and Daddy talked all about the things that Ben had doen that day. Daddy told Ben about visiting with Gigi and Daddy Wayne. Ben was worried that Daddy Wayne had had to put up the flag without Ben's help. Daddy then made Ben his special "tea" made with 3 parts iced tea, 1 part orange/pineapple juice, two drops of lemon juice, and one package of Splenda sweenter. Ben only drank a little of it before time for bed, and we put the rest into the refrigerator to save.
Ben couldn't stop hugging Daddy and Daddy couldn't stop hugging Ben. It's really hard to travel so much, but it sure makes coming home wonderful.
This morning, Ben and Anna both told Daddy not to go to work - to stay home and play with them. Daddy has to go to work, but maybe not on time today.
Cousins Zack, Dylan, and Mary Jordan were being dedicated in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Daddy drove up to see them. It was about a 900 mile trip in 36 hours, and it meant that Daddy was gone from noon on Saturday until bedtime on Sunday. Ben and Anna both told Daddy not to go.
When Daddy got back on Sunday night, Ben was waiting at the door, respendent in long PJs and his puppy slippers. He was so excited to see Daddy. Daddy had to carry him around until long after his bedtime. Daddy looked in on Anna, but she was going to bed. She just smiled at him and rolled over.
Ben and Daddy talked all about the things that Ben had doen that day. Daddy told Ben about visiting with Gigi and Daddy Wayne. Ben was worried that Daddy Wayne had had to put up the flag without Ben's help. Daddy then made Ben his special "tea" made with 3 parts iced tea, 1 part orange/pineapple juice, two drops of lemon juice, and one package of Splenda sweenter. Ben only drank a little of it before time for bed, and we put the rest into the refrigerator to save.
Ben couldn't stop hugging Daddy and Daddy couldn't stop hugging Ben. It's really hard to travel so much, but it sure makes coming home wonderful.
This morning, Ben and Anna both told Daddy not to go to work - to stay home and play with them. Daddy has to go to work, but maybe not on time today.
# posted by Scott @ 8/23/2004 03:26:00 PM
Where does God live?
Last night, Ben and I had a deep metaphysical religious discussion in the place where such discussions usually take place - a stall in the second floor men's room of the Dunwoody United Methodist Church. I'll spare everyone the details of what we were doing in there and skip to the more interesting conversation, at least such as I can recall.
Ben: Daddy, where does God live?
Daddy: In heaven.
Ben: Oh. Does he live in here? [pointing to chest]
Daddy: Well, yes, I suppose he lives in there, too.
Ben: But, he can't live in here, 'cause then we can't see him. And you can see people!
Daddy: Well, God's not really a person. He's special. You can't see him.
Ben: That's not right. [Thinks for a moment.] Maybe God lives in that vent. [points to a vent]
Daddy: Well, God is sort of everywhere, so I guess he's in that vent, too.
Ben: [laughing] That's funny, Daddy.
I found out later from talking to Mommy that this was not the first time Ben's asked these questions, but it was the first for me. I thought I handled it well - not too much theology for a four year old, and he seemed satisfied with the answers. But it does make me worry about what's coming next.
Ben: Daddy, where does God live?
Daddy: In heaven.
Ben: Oh. Does he live in here? [pointing to chest]
Daddy: Well, yes, I suppose he lives in there, too.
Ben: But, he can't live in here, 'cause then we can't see him. And you can see people!
Daddy: Well, God's not really a person. He's special. You can't see him.
Ben: That's not right. [Thinks for a moment.] Maybe God lives in that vent. [points to a vent]
Daddy: Well, God is sort of everywhere, so I guess he's in that vent, too.
Ben: [laughing] That's funny, Daddy.
I found out later from talking to Mommy that this was not the first time Ben's asked these questions, but it was the first for me. I thought I handled it well - not too much theology for a four year old, and he seemed satisfied with the answers. But it does make me worry about what's coming next.
# posted by Scott @ 8/19/2004 10:15:00 AM
