It didn't go so well.
She clung to him, screaming. "Don't go, Daddy! Stay with me!" (I swear she'd rather walk the Kokoda Track with him than let him out of her sight.)
As we drove off she was still crying. "I want my Daddy... *sob*... my special Daddy!"
I held it together enough to have her forgetting her tears within five minutes. Another five minutes and she was giggling, and we talked about silly things and laughed the rest of the way.
It was only when we got home that it really hit me.
The thing that probably annoys me most about my husband is the mess he makes in the kitchen. I can have it sparkling clean, but the minute he walks in there are dishes strewn everywhere, crumbs all over the bench, food left out and, worst of all, tiny specks of freshly ground coffee creating a film-like cover over every surface.
Today I cleaned the kitchen. Stood back and looked at it and started bawling. He won't be here to mess it up for almost two weeks.
Perpetual tidiness is a weird fantasy of mine - but it's actually a very lonely reality.
I had thought a lot about how I'd cope physically, how I'd get my work done (which is, probably not at all!), how I'd distract Abbey - everything but how much I'd miss him.
It took a little time, but then I was able to do what I needed to: remember that this needn't be about time without him, but more about time with my little girl. Over the next two weeks she needs a mum who's here in every sense of the word, and I need her.
So I spent the rest of the day playing hide and seek, reading stories, snuggling on the couch watching a favourite movie and chatting.
And today looked pretty much the same.
It's only two weeks. One day at a time.
Sending so much love to you Megan. I know how I would be feeling if my husband had to go away at this stage of my pregnancy and it wouldn't be pretty! He's been out this afternoon for 3 hours and I'm at my wits end! Let me know if you want to get the kids together for a play date xx
ReplyDeleteI went through this a lot in the early days of marriage.
ReplyDeleteThe bad thing was that I would miss him terribly in the beginning, but then find my rhythm and be annoyed when the dynamics changed on his return, lol.
It will go very very fast.
ReplyDeleteEarlier this year my hubby went away for 2 weeks. he went to Japan Skiing. I wanted him to go. He rang 2 days later to tell me that they gotten lost in snow and subsequently rescued. It was a scary ordeal. I'm glad there were all ok (my nephew and a friend was there too).
There was also the little matter of a $4000 bill for the rescue. We don't talk about that. and no Travel insurance does not cover that.
My partner works in a fly in fly out situation and I am usually too busy to miss him! Like mad mother said its annoying when they come back and the dynamics change yet again! Two weeks will fly. Love bomb yourself and your little girl.
ReplyDeleteMy partner worked away for four months before we moved up to the district for good. We saw him three times and it sucked sooooo much!
ReplyDeleteI suffered really badly when we moved, he was in my way and forever messing up what I had just cleaned. I had got into my own rhythm while he was away and we are still struggling to fit back together again.
The kitchen is meant to be his cleaning job. I could not count the number of times I have fed the kids toasties or noodles because he hadn't done the dishes for two days. But at least he's here to annoy me I guess.
Big hugs xx I hope you and your beautiful girl have a wonderful two weeks together xx
That's tough, it really is. But I also think that a bit of time without Dad or Mum or Mum and Dad is good for children of all ages. They get to know the other parent so much better or, if both are away, they learn that other people love and care for them just like their parents do. Because they are special like that.
ReplyDeleteI hope this goes okay for you. You are so clever to focus on the positives of the situation.
x
Wow, I'm feeling for you and your girl. It's so hard on their little hearts. And I can only imagine how hard it is for you. I think I'd fall apart if my husband went away for 2 weeks. Much love and strength for every day. xx
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