Sounds GOOD to Me!

So, my wife travels for work. Approximately, 5 to 6 times a year (some times more), she will fly to San Francisco for a week at a time leaving me on SOLO dad duty. First, let me give a huge SHOUT OUT to all the single parents out there who are always on solo duty. After one week with our kids alone -- simply put... I'm toast, the kids are toast, the dog is toast...AND, we can't wait for mom to be home. Single parents everywhere, you are amazing! End of story.

Up until recently, my approach had been to maintain normalcy during my wife's week away. Normal everything! Every ritual we would do with mom here, we would do without mom here. Well, needless to say, this really didn't work well (as shown by the large number of tears that were being shed on a nightly basis for one reason or another). In my mind, the normal routine would keep the kids feeling normal, regardless of mom being in San Francisco or not.

Then it happened! I had a Burp Armor moment. A revelation! A novel idea! An, "AHHH HAAA!!!!" moment where the lighting bolt descends from Zeus, strikes you smack in the center of the head and your instantly awakened a better self. Why was I trying to maintain normalcy when everything was completely abnormal! Who was I kidding, and what was I thinking??? Mom not being around for a week, was and is completely abnormal. So, what did I do...I embraced the abnormalcy with, "Sounds GOOD to me!"

"Daddy, can I sleep in your bed all week since Mama's not here?"
"Sounds good to me!"
"Dada, more dessert?"
"Sounds good to me!"
"Dad, can we go to Johnny Rocket's?"
"Sounds GREAT to me!"

While mama's gone, the mice will play. Now, the rule was quickly established that we resume normalcy as soon as mom steps back in the house. And, the kids have been great sticking to the rule. When I shared this idea with my wife -- she loved it. Her response like any great wife was, "Whatever works!" Perfect answer!

So, here it is -- halfway through the week and we are all looking forward to mom coming home. Burp Armor orders are being filled, the kids are sound a sleep, and I am missing my wife. Do you know what the greatest thing about when my wife travels? It's AWESOME when she comes home and the abnormalcy returns to our wonderful, everyday normal!

Travel safely, My Love!