Mama Mia!
I spent the past weekend in the beautiful city of Seattle. It actually is pretty nice — weather notwithstanding. It’s walkable, there plenty of outdoorsy-type things to do nearby, it has a nifty market near the water, and spawned some good bands 20 years ago.
That’s right, mindless kids flocking to Seattle! Grunge is over! It’s been over! Cobain’s been dead for 16 years! Get over it!
Sorry… that may have been a little harsh. But true. There were just too many 18-to-25-year-old kids walking about in flannel shirts and a look of pain on their faces.
Anyway, because it was a trip to the coast, and I couldn’t get a flight on Saturday, I had to wait until Sunday morning to fly home, which meant that I didn’t actually walk through the door until 3 in the afternoon.
And while I missed Kristen and Henry horribly, it really didn’t matter for the little monkey because of late, I’ve been second class. Kristen may disagree, but for the past two months, Daddy has come in fifth place in the asking-for-someone-when-he-wakes-up run down.
“Mama”, of course, is first. After that is any combination of “Odin”, “Nisha”, “Zoe-bear”, “Sava”, and “CC”. Who are these people? Well, since the beginning of the year, we’ve added a new little girl to the nanny-share roster (as Vivienne is only with the clan for about 18 hours a week). The new girl (a lovely young lady, just turned 1, and running circles around everyone in sight) is Anisha (or Nisha when Henry says it). Her family has two dogs (Odin and Zoe-Bear) and a turtle (who I’m surprised Henry hasn’t started asking for yet), all of whom Henry adores (and is adored back). When Odin, a yellow lab-mix, sees Henry in the morning, he shakes his tail so vigorously, his entire body swings back and forth.
Anyway, back to my whining. Sava is Silvia, and CC is our cats. Both of our cats, as Henry can’t seem to figure our which is which.
Where’s Daddy in all this? Nowhere to be found.
And it gets worse. If ever Henry is upset or bonks his knee or is just plain crabby, it’s Mama that he calls out, the tears streaming down his face. Henry! I’m right here! I’m hugging you! A Daddy would be nice on occasion!
If he and I are playing, and, for whatever reason, he notices that Kristen isn’t there, he’ll stand up and start calling for her.
That’s cold, Henry. Cold.
Now Kristen said that while I was gone, he asked for Daddy all the time, but I just don’t believe her. I mean, there is no video proof! Nothing! Even when I got home on Sunday, it was great to see him run toward the front door, but instead of a big hug, he veered off so he could chase one of the cats. He left me hanging like a dope.
Everything I read says that he’ll turn to me soon (and back to Kristen and then back to me, ad nauseum), but I can’t wait. I need it now.
Doesn’t he realize that this whole parent-child thing isn’t about him? It’s all about me!
