Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Wake-Up Call

The phone rings at 7:15 am. (Yes, I am still sleeping.) I have trouble reading the caller id. I hear someone leaving a message. I get up, grab the phone, look to see who has interrupted my beauty sleep, and then listen to the message.

It was my little man's father. Apparently work is slow right now (he paints cars/works on commission) and he took the day off and wanted to know if he could spend it with his son. Of all days, my little guy sleeps to his heart content (he slept until 10:00). Yesterday's adventures at the water park, baseball practice, and playing with the girls must have worn him out. When he awoke and I told him the great news, he said he wanted to stay with me. I replied with a, "Yeah, I know, but daddy took the day off to be with you today." He finally woke up and decided he wanted to go to his dads.

All I could think about was all the things I could get done. So let me break it down. I spent:

  • an hour at Hobby Lobby,
  • about 20 minutes at Michael's,
  • a quick run into Starbucks,
  • another quick run, this time into Costco to get a salad for lunch (Number Twelve's request),
  • approximately an hour and a half at Number Twelves,
  • an hour tidying up the house,
  • 30 minutes reading blogs,
  • roughly 20 minutes creating/writing a new post,
  • 90 minutes laying down in peace and quiet,
  • about 45 minutes applying second coat of paint to foyer, and finally
  • the rest of the evening I sat down catching up on three episodes of The View as I scrapbooked.

When I dropped off my little man this morning, his dad asked me what time I wanted him back. I replied it didn't matter. So I didn't get a call until 9:50 pm telling me that he was bringing him home.

It was definitely a break I needed.

~flygirl~

11 comments:

madameplushbottom said...

Wow girly girl! You had a busy day and I'm glad you were able to rest as well. I sent you instructions for the pinata. If you need any more help just email me again and I'll do my best.

When is the party?

Take care and I look forward to seeing some pictures.

Bar L. said...

Good for you! This sounds real familiar since my son didn't always want to spend time with his dad on the rare occasions he had the opportunity but it was a nice break! Glad you got a much deserved rate.

Bar L. said...

i meant break not rate!

HLiza said...

You really deserve a break. Glad you enjoyed yourself. Hope your little man too..

Sue said...

We all deserve a break every now and again - looks like you made the most of yours, even if most of it was spent dashing about!

Tiffanie said...

Good for you. Sounds like you got a lot done, especially the part of 90 minutes in peace of laying down! Now THAT is what a busy mom needs and deserves.

Edward said...

I hope I don't offend.

I think you did the right thing. I've seen folks who don't. Its good to take a break. But your son also needs his father and that in its own right is good enough reason to force him to go for a visit.

I wouldn't necessarily say, "Your Dad took the day off so thats why you have to do it", either. I would leave it with, "Its your Dad's turn to spend time with you."

I have been divorced for a few years now. I have a few children and more than once they have said to me, "I don't want to go." I tell them the same thing every time. "Its time to go to your Mom's and thats non-negotiable."

I look at it this way. Children of people who are still married don't get to pick when they will socialize with their parents. They simply go where their parents are. We too often grant some new found "freedom of association" to children of divorce as though they are mature enough to make decisions of that magnitude on their own.

In so doing, we expect them to act like adults, when we adults, who are actually equipped with the faculties and maturity necessary, often make poor decisions. How much more so a child?

"But he didn't want to go," is a poor excuse because we never know what portion of that want is generated by wanting the predictable over the new, or is derived by some misplaced sense of loyalty to the parent already on hand.

Sorry about that. I get off on a rant sometimes. I think you did the right thing. I hope I didn't get too preachy on the subject.

Diane Arias said...

The company, the Starbucks Iced Coffee, and the Costco salad were all wonderful... in that order!

Diane Arias said...

Forgot to say Thank you!!!!

Gooey Munster said...

That's really awesome that your little man has a dad willing to spend time with him when the opportunity presents. You dedicate so much time to your son, and I think it is beautiful how you put being a parent first. Some day I desire such dedication as a parent.

Saurabh Banerjee said...

I like how you address your son "My Little Man" :-)