My father told me once that the saddest part of separating from my mother was the fact that he didn’t live in the same house as us anymore. He said that all the really funny stuff, the bonding moments, happen when you are just sitting around your house hanging out. One moment nothing much is happening and the next thing you know you find yourself in a full on uncontrollable giggle.

My father is the master of hanging out. He can come over and hang out. He’s not worried about what we are doing next or asking questions about what’s for dinner. He just gets in there. Any chance he gets he’ll start messing around with the kids, goofing off until they are in that elusive state of the uncontrollable giggle. He can do it with all my kids and any age. It’s really quite a gift.

Dad drew a picture of Jack

Yesterday I realized I trapped him in our house for 2 days watching various kids while I went out, sometimes with other kids and sometimes not, to do whatever I wanted or needed to. He didn’t even notice.

Adam and I are not like this. We feel the need to have activities and fun things planned every day. So, Dad’s visit is taking on a mix of both.

At the Beach

At Highland Park Aqua Park

Dad is planning on staying long enough to shore me up until school starts, thank goodness. Next week before school starts I’ll need all the help I can get.