Time away

This week has been a hard one, but I feel that I have risen to the occasion. On Monday morning James left at ridiculous o'clock to head to Melbourne for work for a week. Wednesday was my first day back at work. Mum was away with the school Canberra excursion so she wasn't coming over for my normal 'help around the house and hang out with Daniel' Mum day. And my body decided that I would come down with a cold this week. 

Daniel has been pretty good. He has let me have an afternoon nap most days while he has had one too. He has also let me have some down time in the mornings. He has been ok with me just watching him or doing other things, not playing with him, because I don't want him to catch this cold. He had been ok with having minimal cuddles too. I really hope that he doesn't catch this cold though! That would not be very fun for him or for anyone who needs to look after him.

This cold has really knocked me around. I don't remember having one for so long, but maybe that's because times before when I have had a cold I have been able to just bludge on the couch all day, have dinner cooked for me and be looked after. Whereas this week I have had some down time on the couch but have also been up watching/chasing Daniel, I have had to cook dinner for myself, feed Daniel, etc. I admire how our parents (and all parents for that matter) cope when they are sick and need to look after kids. I am pretty sure this is my first sickness since having Daniel (which isn't too bad for over a year). I am also hoping that this cold will pass tonight (and Murphy's Law tells me that it will because James gets home tonight) so that I can participate in the Transport Challenge tomorrow with James, Sam and Kate - organised by Howie. But we will have to wait until the morning to see. I have definitely been feeling a bit better as today has gone by.

Anyway, yes, this week James has been in Melbourne for a work conference. It is the longest that he has been away from Daniel and he has been missing him. We have used skype a couple of times and Daniel just loves watching and talking with Daddy.

Hi Daddy

Laughing at Daddy playing peek-a-boo

Blowing Daddy kisses

Waving bye

Listening to Daddy chat

It is so amazing how we can use technology these days. I love that Daniel got to see James, even though James wasn't here in person. They even got to play a game of peek-a-boo which Daniel really enjoyed!

While I feel that I have done quite well this week - I haven't had any melt downs, I haven't just crashed and burnt at the end of the day - I am definitely keen to have James back home and to have him not go away again soon. I really do value his love for cooking, the way that he willingly looks after me when I am sick, the way he helps look after Daniel, the way he loves Daniel's bath time. I know I often take it for granted, but this week has reminded me of how much of a team we are. 

I also started work again this week with the Athletics carnival. It was nice to be back. Not so fun having the head cold - really made me struggle toward the middle and end of the day. I also found the transition from being full time to part time a bit difficult. I was the one who was moved from my job 3 times to help out others - not necessarily a bad thing, but other times when I have been given a job and kept that one. It's hard to explain. I know it's because I am flexible and won't whinge and complain about it for ages to come, but it is a transition. As some other part-timers said, 'welcome to being on the bottom of the food chain'. I am looking forward to Monday and starting up my proper job of Literacy Support in year 3. I am looking forward to working with some kids that I taught 2 years ago and to seeing their progress over the rest of this year. I am looking forward to working closely with some of my great buddy teachers who I really admire. I am looking forward to being back. 

It always makes it easier when I know that Daniel enjoys being with Auntie Jenny and Oscar and Uncle Awesome too. I hope that Oscar and Daniel enjoy hanging out with each other more as he will be home on Mondays and I hope they look after Auntie Jenny too!