Christmas has come and gone. Another year will pass before we fight each other in the stores for the hottest toy of the season, and we maniacally check our phones for an email detailing the latest cyber deal. The tree is down, so are the lights and decorations, and even though only one day had passed, Christmas 2018 is already becoming a memory. But over the past day I’ve had time to reflect on the best gift that I received: time.
Time to spend with family and loved ones. More importantly, time with my 9 month old. For the first time in years, I had 4 days off of work, and it was greatly needed.
When my daughter was first born, she hardly left my side. She would only eat if I fed her. She would only smile at me, and I was the only person who could get her to fall asleep in their arms. For several months my wife and I both worked. She would go to work at 3am, then I would drive my daughter to my wife at 6am and head off to work for 10 to 12 hours.
But with my daughters medical issues, 2 people working was just not feasible any longer. So during the summer, I asked my wife to stay home and handle things while I worked. Just 2 years prior, the roles were reversed. My wife busted her ass at work so I could go to college.
As time went on though, my daughter grew closer to my wife(as she should, that’s her mom!). I was gone for so long each day that the things she enjoyed doing with me she didn’t any more. Every day I came home though I would get a smile and a hug, but then it was back to momma. Except the weekends, she knows she gets 2 full days with me!
Back in October I accepted a job offer with an extremely large global company. It’s an amazing job, but I’m gone more now. They’re a great company though, we get paid holidays.
2018 has been a trying year, thankfully it’s almost over. But the past 4 days made everything worth it. My daughter was so excited to have me home. I fed her at all her meals, put her to bed each night, played for hours, and was able to give my wife a much needed break.
The smile is back on her face now, and honestly, its back on mine too. Id get so frustrated thinking that she didn’t like me, but I know that’s not the case. Every little girl needs their mom, but I realize that she thinks dad is pretty cool too😀
Our little but loud family. 