Not Only Does The World Not Stop When Mom Goes Away, Dad LOVES It...

Would you believe that Ollie didn’t cry once for me while I was away?  When I would call, Skype or FaceTime all I got were smiles and tales of his adventures with FTD.  PLANES, Mommy!--FTD Took him to the local airfield. “Walk-a-wagon, Mommy!”--FTD took him for a walk in the wagon twice a day. “Sghetti and chippies, Mommy!” --Dad-dinner of pasta and fries. “Ollies’ House, Mommy!"--FTD took him to see our new house. The tales of their adventures went on and on, with FTD in the background filling in the details. I couldn’t believe my ears, after all my worrying over leaving Ollie, he was having a grand time with daddy; clearly unaffected by my absence.

Day One. Going To Work With Daddy
Being that I have never left Ollie for more than a few hours at a time, I was convinced he would have a terrible time without me, or at the very least, meltdown at bedtime. Nope. Not a tear. In fact, FTD said he would just say, “nite-nite, daddy,” and off they went to Ollie's room for rock-a-bye before getting in his crib.

WHAT THE HELL?  

No tears? All smiles? Easy to put to sleep? 

If I did not see his happy little face and hear his cheerful sweet voice every time I called, I wouldn’t have believed it... 

I on the other hand, would tear up when I heard his voice. I would even tear up from the sound of FTD’s voice. I missed the hell out of my boys! And when FTD would send happy waving photos, I would miss them more! 

I never doubted for a minute that FTD would do great while I was away, I just didn’t think it would be THAT great!  In one day they went to for a walk in the wagon, to the park to play on the swings and slides, to see our new house, and even went to the airfield to watch the Cessnas and private jets fly in and out; all while keeping Ollie fed and hydrated.  Way to go FTD!



So, get this... FTD was not the only dad who was stoked I went away for the weekend.  Every other dad I encountered shared how they wished their wife would go away too!  I'm not kidding. It was bizarre... EVERY dad I talked to said pretty much the same thing... 

“Good for you, it’s good that you got away! I wish my wife would go away too…”
“I would love to have the kids to myself for the weekend.”
"My wife needs to get away. She is 100% focused on the kids, and it's not good."

ALL of my conversations with the dads I encountered went just like that.  Seriously. 

From an executive at the Continental Proving Grounds, to the room service guy at the hotel (He brought my breakfast twice while I was Skyping with FTD and Ollie) to a test operator, to the guy sitting next me on one of my flights; ALL of the dads agreed that they wanted their wives to take a break, get away and let them do their dad thing for a weekend.

Throughout the conversations with the dads, one thing really stuck out, the dads were desperate for their wives to step back, release a little control and take their 100% undivided focus off the kids. It seemed to me, the dads just wanted their wife to relax, recenter and come back to see that life goes on when they are not there micromanaging the house.

I have to admit, this trip away was certainly an eye-opening experience for me. Even though I was POSITIVE that Thing1 and Thing2 were going to have a hard time without me for the weekend... I couldn't have been further from the truth. Ollie went to sleep on time, had great meals and a blast with his rad-dad. FTD went to sleep on time, had great meals and had a blast with his rad-son. 

Me going away for a couple of days was so incredibly healthy for my family. I have come back relaxed, feeling re-centered and realize I do not need to micromanage everything. Needless to say, I am so proud of my husband. He did such an amazing job. In the future, I will not hesitate to go away for a couple days.  Even though I will miss them like crazy, I am comforted knowing they are having a wonderful time together.

Attention Micromanagement Moms, take a weekend off! Your husband and kids will thank you for it. Don't believe me? Go ask them...  

(Tomorrow for Top 10 Tuesday... Top 10 Moments of my weekend away! A helicopter, race cars, hydroplanes, skeet shooting and the Alamo are all on the list-- the post is PACKED with photos and videos!)



April is an award-winning writer and blogger. Her work has been published in over ten countries and four languages. From books to newspapers, to print/online magazines and everything in between, you can find her work. For more on April, Visit AprilMcCormick.com