A LEAVING FRIDAY

‘If you can, save some of it so we can do it together when I get back’.

I sensed his concern. That I would work on the puzzle whilst he was at his father’s house. I told him that I would work on one of my Lego sets and he seemed happy with my answer. Indeed, it is tempting to work on ‘just the orange part’ or ‘until I find that one piece’. But, I will wait and work on something else. Besides, I have more books to read and seeing how last night I finished the book I started last weekend, I can now choose another book to start reading tonight.

It was the middle one’s turn to take over my bed last night. We stayed up talking for over an hour about her concerns with her wishing she could stay at my place. Things would be much easier for the children if the co-parenting situation was not the parallel parenting arrangement it turned out to be. I have spent hours online reading through articles on such an arrangement that I truly wished it did not have to be this way. I even came upon a term tonight which I have not heard before called counter parenting which addresses the issues my daughter is having and ones I tried to alleviate.  But she is not the only one.

An hour before we had to leave today, my son was reading his book on my bed. He was distracted at times and then confided in me that he also wished to stay at my place for similar reasons. My greatest wish for all of my children is happiness and for them to have a childhood for as long as they can. There is no use worrying about things out of our control. We simply do our best.

Last night I cut my son’s hair. A few years ago, I bought the Wahl hair clipper set which somehow made it into the garage but had thankfully been found this past weekend. Yesterday was the second time I had used them on him and he was very happy with the result. Even his sister said I did a good job. The middle one. The older one seemed not to notice but I’m sure that’s just her being the older teenage sister.

Having finished work earlier than usual, I was able to drop them off at their father’s house on time. To the exact minute. The children know that I do not like being late to anything nor that I tolerate lateness from anyone. Sometimes it is inevitable. Other times there is no excuse for it.

A leaving Friday can leave one with a sense of dread or we can look at it as a time to recharge and be ready for the arriving Friday in seven days. After all, I know this will not be forever. It is a phase in life which will one day pass.