The Ex called me at work on Tuesday morning to let me know that Ankle Biter was running a fever and she was picking him up for the afternoon. She took him to the local clinic to get checked out and asked if we could move around his suppertime visit with me to another day.
I told her that she didn’t have to do everything alone. I have found that she wants to take the reigns on all things involving our son and I just don’t think she needs to take that burden 100% of the time. So I told her that if Ankle Biter was sick and someone needed to take care of him, I was more than willing to be the one to take time off of work. It just seemed silly that she was always the one making sacrifices.
Yesterday, she took me up on the offer.
My phone rang at 8:15am as I was leaving for work. The Ex asked if I could look after our son in the afternoon and she’d take “the morning shift”. Of course I said yes.
I picked him up at 12:45pm and we head off to my place for the afternoon. We immediately got on the couch, got underneath a blanket, and popped Snow Buddies into the DVD player. And then Air Buddies. Then Charlotte’s Web.
His temperature hovered around 99.5 degrees all afternoon, so he was very warm and very tired. But it was nice because he wasn’t sick sick. It was a bonding experience, really. It was just a really nice thing to cuddle with my little boy and try to make him feel better when he was sick.
I read blogs and tweets and stories of deadbeat dads and dads who call once a year and dads who are more concerned with their relationships with their girlfriends than with their own kids. These stories never cease to baffle me.
My children are top priorities for me. I’m far from perfect, but I want to be a constant in their lives…someone who is there when they need me.
When Ankle Biter grows up, he’ll remember the times when dad spent the day with him when he was sick…because I think it’ll be a situation that happens multiple times in the years to come.
January 14th, 2010 at 11:33 am
This is why so many of us love and respect you! I was lucky that I had two very involved parents, but it’s so sad that there are some kids who have a live-in parent who are completely uninvolved. I have a friend who’s dad did little more than provide genetic material for his three and a paycheck for his wife to use to raise and support them.
He never changed a diaper, he never played games with them or was involved with them at all! It’s so sad when a live-in parent falls under the category of DBD, too!
AB isn’t the only lucky one, though, you’re lucky too that you’re going to have so many great memories of your kids BECAUSE you’re so involved and such a great dad!!
January 14th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
I used to be that way with Benjamin, mostly because it was so hard to leave him with anyone when he was sick. My instinct was always to stay close to him. But I learned after finally letting go of the reins a bit that his dad is an EXCELLENT sick-time caregiver. He loves to cuddle with his boy too! And he works from home, so often he can rearrange any conference calls or meetings he has on his planner.
January 14th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
You could give my ex husband some pointers in the fatherhood department but I’m afraid it wouldn’t help much. I’d give you kudos but really you don’t deserve them. You’re just doing what a Dad should do. Instead I’ll give you a fist bump and tell you, “Carry on, carry on”.
January 14th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
So sweet of you to even realize that she has been taking on the responsibility. And even kinder for you to offer.
Sounds like a snuggly kind of day.
How can anyone not LOVE CBG?
xxoo
January 14th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
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What T said. TOTALLY.
January 14th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
You are rare and that is sad. Not rare among dads but rare among single dads.
Your awesome! Cool post
January 14th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Good Job Man! I agree with BiblioMom that you’re doing what a Dad is supposed to do, but so many don’t . You are setting a great example, not only for other dads, but for your children too. And these are those little moments in life that will give you all warm fuzzies when you look back on them. I hope your little Ankle Biter is feeling better!