Week without the kids

Today's pics were suggested by Wayne for the Pic-a-Day-in-May feature.  That's me on the left.
It's been a highly unusual week in that all three kids have been at my ex-wife's house for much of the time, although I've seen some of the kids in passing such as at grandma's house.  I also see my son at school occasionally but we don't usually talk in front of his classmates.  I haven't had a week alone in a very, very long time;  perhaps many years.

Since my middle daughter (19) has come back from university out of town, she's been following a strict week-on, week-off arrangment between my house and my wife's. She doesn`t want to play favourites between parents, she said.

She's highly a organized, charismatic and fun person, the sort who organizes fun activities and who others want to spend time with.  So, the oldest (21) and youngest (16.5) have informally adopted her schedule so that all three kids are together most of the time.

View from my front yard last night

It's is gratifying to see that my children have become so close as adults (or almost adults).   I'm sure that the breakdown of our marriage has accelerated this process along ... they've created their own strong family unit with or without their parents.

I like to see how help each other out instead of (as they did as children) always turning to a parent for help.  My son will change the oil on his sister's car and cut the wood for a shelf she's building.   In turn, she will write help with his English essay and cook him breakfast.  That bond will serve them in good stead, I hope, when my wife and I are no longer here.  

But it's also a transition for me, going from being responsible for every need of the three kids to a place where I am not needed, or at least not needed as much as previously.  That will take some getting used to.

But I'm never completely alone because I have had a few men over, including a fun, relaxed 24 year-old, Big Red, who may becoming a regular and who I haven't yet blogged about.   There are pros and cons to this new schedule:  when the three kids and three dogs are here, it is extremely busy with cooking, house projects, squabbling dogs and activities.   I love having my kids here but I`m not sure that I would want ALL of them here ALL of the time at this point.  

When they are not here, the house renovation projects continue as before.  But it is much quieter but I have much more freedom to make arrangements for sexytime with men...  so that`s a positive thing as well.

Transitions in life!




This is me.