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Monday, March 9, 2009

My Wife and Kids Ditched Me (For a Day)

Even though Matthew and Sarah are an absolute delight, there are days when I wonder how much more productive I could be if I weren't constantly bouncing somebody, feeding somebody, walking or clothing somebody or getting them ready for bed. Granted, my wife does most of the work, especially when I'm at the office, but there's always that curiosity - what would actually get done if I were to finally get time to myself?


As it turns out, not much. Maybe I'm the typical American male after all.


Yesterday afternoon, Kristine bundled the twins in the car and set off to meet my parents in the Sacramento area for a 24-hour visit, primarily to pass along our old Series 1 TiVo to my younger brother, who was also there to get a hand-me down TV from my parents. Good deal if you can get it. Given I planned to go to work Monday morning, there was no real way I could go, so for 12 hours anyway, the house was mine.

That meant I didn't have to tiptoe around the house for fear of waking kids up. I didn't have to close doors quietly and talk on the phone quietly. I didn't have to step over people and around things. But any master plan of getting caught up on work for the office, or banging out a dozen blog posts and answering all my e-mail failed. Big time fail.

Instead, I managed to act like the typical bachelor. I burned my lunch in the microwave, making the house reek of smoke. I watched an old film on TiVo. I even got a small nap - and finished the evening off by finding a new show "Breaking Bad" and then watching "This Film Is Not Yet Rated" (Both are highly recommended). It's probably the most TV I've seen in one day in a long time.

Kristine returns today, and will again get the chance to take care of the kids solo, as soon as I go to SXSW at the end of the week. My one-day daddy vacation will have been complete. But to be honest, I'd have traded my day of sloth just to have the twins around - especially now that we've proven I can be totally unproductive whether they are there or not.
Posted by Louis Gray at
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6 comments:

  1. Of course, you know where this will lead.

    When you get back from SXSW, Kristine will probably appreciate the chance to be just as unproductive as you were. (Well, hopefully she won't burn her lunch.)

    I predict a "Daddy day" will occur in the future.

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  2. I find that I am more productive when the kids are around. I think it has to do with being more focused on being productive, rather than the "Daddy day", when you are more relaxed and willing to take your time.
    Yet, it is still easy to blame it on the kids... "That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!"

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  3. Ontario, the problem there is I'm only home for one day. SXSW gives way to A's Spring Training the following Thursday. Kristine has had her chances for me to take the kids, but I'm sure she has more solo hours with them than I do, by far.

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  4. Louis, to keep this marriage equal, I promise that if you take the twins for 24 hrs I will also be unproductive.

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  5. Well, productive or not, the twins are always welcome at their grandparent's house. And -- they were a hit at my office! Sarah really turned on the charm. It was delightful to see her light up, smile, and reach out to people. Matthew was a little reserved -- still waking up from his nap, but both elicited smiles. Thanks for taking the trouble to play "take the kids to work day."

    Nana

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  6. AuntieM liked that the twins came for a visit. I love my babies.

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