Dad Can Hardly Wait

My girls have only been off of school for a week, yet I am finding myself counting down the days until they go back.  Does that make me a bad parent?

It doesn't help that I don't like the winter.  I can't STAND it.  I am bored.  I put on weight.  I am tired all day and am ready for bed at 5:30 (FIVE THIRTY!!!) when it begins to get dark.   I can't send the girls outside to play.  I can't take the girls for a walk and enjoy the weather.  I AM taking them to Lifetime today to play in the kid's area.   But I am not exactly a role model when it comes to dealing with the Winter Blues.

I am finding I am doing one of the things they told us who work in education NOT to do; take things personal.  It is easy for me to get on one of my football kids for being an idiot in class, or being lazy at practice, or treating people the wrong way.  It is part of learning.  It is part of growing up. 

However, as soon as I tell Ayla to stop hitting her sisters in the head (for fun) with her over sized stuffed animal, Baby Gracie, then my whole morning is shot.  It starts with the playful banter amongst siblings. You know, the oldest sibling is laughing while the other two yell out "Leave me alone Ayla!!!"  Playful or not, I told Ayla more than once to stop.  She didn't. 

So of course I take the stuffed animal away and the tears start flowing.  At least today I didn't hear how much I hurt her feelings. All I heard for the next ten minutes was "I want Baby Gracie back!!"  Music to my ears.

In the meantime, Elanor has been on an antibiotic for bronchitis.  It is recommended that she takes it after eating something.  She has been up for over an hour now, and I have gotten her to eat a spoonful of peanut butter.  Awesome.

Lastly, Sofia has been up and down too with her health. (While I am writing this Elanor tripped over the wire to the Singing Snowman and the hat broke off.  They are trying to fix it.  I am ignoring it to try and finish this blog before I lose my mind).  This morning she woke up in a good mood, but she has become very vocal with what she wants (She is crying now because I took those little candies on paper you peel off to eat away from her.  She finds everything and anything).  I feel guilty because I go back and forth: I can't stand hanging out with my girls (like now, while trying finish this with Sofia clinging to me, crying, and driving me nuts).  But I love hanging out with them when they are happy, fun, polite, smiling, and making me laugh. 

Does this make me a bad parent?

Update on the Girls :)

A lot has gone on in the last few months.  Sofia is blabbering her head off.  Elanor still thinks she is a rock star.  Ayla is going a long way to becoming class mom for life.  But one thing hasn't changed:  my girls don't stop talking.  Ever. 

On most Tuesdays and Thursdays we have added a new body to the chaos at Daddy Daycare.  Cousin Jacob!!!  He is a couple months younger then Sofia (he turns one next week), but doesn't stop moving.  At least with the girls they will stop and read a book, dance to music, sing, etc.  Not Jacob.  If he wasn't trying to get to the our fish in the fish tank then he is getting out pots and pans.  Then he turns to attacking the DVD player and stereo.  Oh, don't forget the TV!!! 

The one thing he hasn't gotten to yet is the Christmas Tree.  I am sure it is coming.  Putting up the tree was fun.  It reminded me of being a kid and going up into the attic to get the boxes of ornaments and the such.  Stephanie was getting a little annoyed with Elanor though. Every ornament she put up she asked Steph, "is this one from when I was a baby?"  I mean, EVERY ornament she asked this question.  I thought it was hilarious, of course. 

Last thing.  Halloween candy is almost gone!!!  They rarely ask for it anymore!!!

Brian