BLOG: When Mom Is Away

This year, I've traveled more for work than ever before.  I'd simply be lying to you if I said I didn't enjoy the mommy break.  I have.  Although, I could do without the taxi rides, the bed that is not my own, and the many bad choices that would challenge even the best of dieters.  I think that's been hardest and my waistline is showing it.  Ugh.  I do like exploring new places, learning new things about the industry in which I work, and meeting new people.  While I miss my family, I've enjoyed many of the other things that come with it.

I'll admit, I have been worried about dad of the year.  Now, I'm fairly well versed in being the only parent at home.  By no means am I saying he is not capable as he very much is, but I don't think he gets to polish up on his skill set as much as I have.  I do know that with and 8 year old and a 2 year old at home, sometimes we need to double team to handle them.  When one is gone, it's easy to wear out the only parent who is there.

Daughter of the year No. 2 is potty training.  Knowing so much traveling was coming up, we felt it best to hit it hard after my first trip, which was also the longest amount of time I would be away from home.  Trip No. 1 went without too many problems.  I didn't come home to a dozen new Happy Meal toys and a pony in the backyard.  Whew!  The only hiccup was dad of the year getting what we think was a stint of the flu.  So, we decided the day after I got home, we'd really go at the potty training.

One thing daughter of the year No. 2 definitely is, is smart!  We really have her big sister to thank for much of this progress and the countless parading of her little sister into the bathroom and giving her the play by play of going potty.  She's been nothing short of a huge help in this process.  The next few weeks went by well with only a few accidents here and there.  For the most part though, daughter of the year No. 2 was doing superbly. 

Trip No. 2 came up.  I boarded the plane with not a doubt in my mind that dad of the year couldn't handle this few short days of my being away.  The girls appeared ready to be daddy's helpers and dad of the year was healthy.  After all, I was really only going to be away for 3 days.

On the day of my return, dad of the year posted this photo on Facebook.  He claimed to walk away only for a moment, and returned to this lovely trail of toilet paper.  And there stood daughter of the year No. 2 with the happiest of grins on her face, posing perfectly for this photo opportunity.  I nearly fell off my hotel bed with laughter.  Yep, she hasn't quite gotten the hang of toilet paper or, as daughter of the year No. 2 calls it, her pee-pee towel.  Come on, we potty training parents have to have something to laugh about in this process.

I am very lucky to have dad of the year, a true partner in this parenthood journey with me, who isn't afraid to handle any parenting task.  It has made my trips a bit more relaxing.  Plus, I rested a little easier knowing I'd just stocked up on toilet paper.