Missing my Boy

I have always worked the evening shift, 3pm-1130pm. Most of the time I really enjoy it. I like the people that I work with and I like staying up late. Working exercises my brain and challenges me. I really like medical technology and what you can learn by looking at a simple blood smear. I'll spare you the details beyond this.

The problem is that I tend to miss things that I would like to be part of with my family. They tend to be evening people as well and we do a lot of things as a family, whether I am able to be present or not. I am glad the kids get lots of attention from their Dad too. Dad is fun. He comes up with lots of fun ideas.

This week two small things happened that I wish that I had been there to witness. A couple of days ago Norm was trying to get the lawn mowed before it rained and Brayden was out in his sandbox. About halfway through, it began to rain and Norm continued to mow. He contemplated making Brayden go inside but when he showed up back outside with an umbrella, Norm decided to let him stay out. After all, he was mowing in the rain, right? Brayden had a great time in the rain. He figured out how he could ride his big wheel while holding the umbrella. He was happy regardless of the weather! I wish I'd seen that.

Yesterday the kids called me at work to tell me about the "big tree" they pulled out of the ground with Daddy's truck. Norm had declared war on the burning bush in our front yard. He had been digging around it for days and it wouldn't come out. He told Brayden they were going to pull it out with the truck. Brayden was so excited! He went and got his bicycle helmet and climbed in the passenger side. It took a lot of work but they pulled it out and then together they filled the in the hole. I wish I'd seen that.

I guess I should remember that I witness a lot of the fun things the kids do and say and that there will always be things that I am sad that I miss. Everyday they grow and become more independent of me and that is how it should be. But doesn't every parent wish they could be a fly on the wall where their kids are involved, no matter how old they are.