Jealousy

I know that summer is a stressful time for parents. Robbed of the structure of school, the long, hot summer days can descend into lethargy and crankiness. To combat this, WonderWife™ plotted out her summer with more strategy and cunning than everybody I’ve played in Risk. She's jam packed her days with outings and playdates in order to keep the kids, and to keep herself, from losing their minds.

Stuff like:

Zoos
Ice cream cones
Swimming
Roller Coasters
Cotton Candy
Wooter Ice
Sprinkles
Ferris Wheels
Spinny Rides
Demolition Derby

Part of this means leaving me to my own devices while they go play on the other coast. Because summer is a busy season for me too--my work hours ramp up and travel becomes more extensive.

I’m a little jealous of their exploits--a little left out. But I’m glad they’re all having a good time. Me? I’m just happy that there’s Netflix streaming and that there was a wine sale this weekend.

Alone on Father's Day

The house will be empty for father’s day. I will be alone.

WonderWife™ and the kids will be on the other coast, visiting their grandparents. I will be enjoying the benefits of their absence. I will sleep in (maybe until 8am!). I will be able to enjoy my coffee leisurely. I will watch a Blu-Ray that isn’t Cars.  

I will have the greatest gift a father can have--a day to spend exactly as I see fit. No rules. No obligations. Just me, being coerced by my id to have another beer or watch cartoons with the volume turned way up. Perhaps I’ll grill a steak. (and wrap it in bacon!). It’s been almost a year and a half since I was last left to my own devices. Last time, I watched six movies in one day (a double feature in the theater and four DVDs, and no my eyes didn’t start bleeding). Should I try to break my record? Maybe I should take a nap. Or both!

There are lots of things that I can do. But some things that I can’t. This father’s day I will be alone. WonderWife™ and the kids will have been gone for six days and won’t be back for another four. While I will be enjoying my freedom, I will be missing them. For what is father’s day if the reasons why I’m a father aren’t there to share it with me?

Home Alone

Much like in real life, I like to get out and roam around every once in a while. This is why you'll find me writing posts on other people's blogs (always invited though, I think it's rude to crash). As a result, those of you who visit my actual blog page will notice a new section in the upper right hand corner that provides links to the other places I've been recently. Those of you checking me out in a reader, now you have incentive to click through and visit every once in a while.

Today, I'm back at Venus V. Mars to give the male perspective on being home alone. But honestly, it's really more of a me perspective than should stand for all males. Here's a peek:

My wife and kids have left for a week and I am on my own. It is day 2, Saturday. A day filled with endless possibility. One that has not been pre-planned or scheduled.

A Geek Alone

On the morning of the third day, I was tired of waking up to a quiet house. The silence served only to remind me that I was alone. I peeled myself out of bed and slogged through my morning routine, missing the chaotic sounds of breakfast that are normally just beyond my bedroom door. It wasn’t until I got into the office that I realized that the only time I had spoken all morning was to leave a message on WonderWife’s™ voicemail.

How can you tell that I’ve been alone all week? This is my fifth post in as many days.

I miss them. I miss the chaos. The inane conversations with the Bean about Lightning McQueen and the smiles from Sprout. I miss WonderWife™. There’s nobody around to call me a “geek” when I’m watching cartoons or playing video games. I’m done with this life of solitude. I’m ready for my family to come home.