Daddy's Got the Magic Touch

Today was the first day back at school, daycare for Bub and preschool for Tes. They were super excited and in great moods all morning. I got them dressed, loaded up their backpacks, and we were off. They walked into school together, killing me with cuteness, and I headed off to run errands and clean the house.

When I returnened to pick them up this afternoon I foresaw a happy car ride home filled with stories from the day. All was going as planned until I told Christian it was time to go home. "I don't wanna go!" he screamed and more screaming followed. The screaming continued in the parking lot, through being buckled in, and the entire ride home. I was given a brief moment of quiet after a long talk in the car about being a big boy but it didn't last long. Finally, about five minutes before Nick walked in the door, Christian decided the world was not, in fact, ending.

As soon as daddy got home Christian was happy as could be. Almost all the way through dinner he was in a great mood.  As soon as I took him upstairs for a bath, and out of sight of daddy he started in again with the two year old nonsense. I washed him as quickly as I could and told Tes, over the yelling, that I was taking Christian to daddy and I would be right back. I handed Nick his son, expecting him to scream as I headed back upstairs.

Instead of crying I heard gleeful laughter and poked my head back around the corner. Christian was flying over nicks head, legs kicking in the air, and a huge smile on his face.  He was kicking so hard that he was out of breath, not to mention Nick's arms were about to fall off.  I stood there for a while and watched my son and his father, in their own world of happiness. 

It's hard, sometimes, to not be jealous of daddy moments.  This is the nature of a mother's relationship with her children, we get fun moments to be sure, but all of the hard and testing moments are saved just for us. Our children feel safe enough to let themselves be completely vulnerable.  Unfortunately, this means we get tantrums, tears, and screaming in the car.  Tonight I watched Christian playing with his father, and later listened as both kids giggled happily as he read them books.  He even got Tes to put on her pajama top, a tiny issue, but one she was fighting me tooth and nail on.  Tonight I swallowed my pride and told myself not to take it personally.  Nick is a wonderful father and on nights like these, and every other night, watching him wield his magic touch is a beautiful thing. 

Walking to school

Flying with Daddy