This morning Martin caught a flight to Florida with the kids. But when I tell people this, you'd think I'd just announced that Martin hurled himself off the barn roof. Or single-handedly hog-tied a rabid raccoon.
What?? He flew to Florida? Alone with the kids?
That's the response I get. Astonishment, disbelief, even bitterness, as in, "he's setting a bad example for other fathers by pulling a stunt like that."
Of course if I were making this journey, I'd hear, "Hmm, that's nice.... I need to get tickets for the new twilight movie..."
Because that's the way that people think. Mother traveling with kids? Ho hum. Dad? Call the local news, get a camera crew out there!
I should point out that Martin volunteered for this crazy assignment and he was pretty flip about 2 1/2 hours of airborne confinement. Though I wondered if he harbored any regrets when I dumped him curbside at the airport this morning with 2 kids, 4 bags, and a stroller with flat tires.
But low and behold, he called in the afternoon to say that the trip went fine. The flight was a success without the need to throttle either child or consume copious amounts of alcohol.
Which reaffirms what I've known for a while: Martin manages the kids just fine (probably better than me, albeit in his junk food-fueled, ply-them-with-new-toys style).
Besides, there was a payoff for his troubles: sunny warm weather, a swimming pool and brief return to life in flip flops and shorts.
That martin should get a medal or something.
ReplyDeleteI'm catching up on all your blogs posts, they're so fun to read. I love the sheep stories and pictures (esp. the Xmas card ones). This post reminded me of one Luke did along the same lines: How Low is the Bar Set. When we first had Eve a lot of people were amazed he was a "parent"--as in, "He's changing a diaper, should we take a picture?" And I'd say, "He's home all day with her while I work, so it happens more than you think." Anyway, hope you're doing well and that stuff is working out OK with your dad, that sounds really rough. Take care.
ReplyDelete--Kate Lindon