Day without Daddy

It didn't get off to a very promising start. I was awakened like a shot at 5:30 a.m. by Rachel's sobbing. "I want Daddy!" I heard her say through her crying, and I held my breath, hoping it was a bad dream. I didn't go in right away, and eventually she calmed down.

When I woke her up at 8:15 (I let myself and Rachel sleep in because it's Spring Break and I figured nothing much would be going on at work. Oh, how wrong I was -- I was hopping the whole day!) she didn't want to get up until I used the word "snuggle with Mommy." Then she held her arms out, and when I lifted her up she grabbed me. And I do mean grabbed -- more like clung -- for a while until she decided it was safe, I wasn't going to leave her, too, and then picked out "Make Way for Ducklings" for me to read. It's a long book but she stayed alert for all of it! I was very impressed.

When we put her socks on, I groaned, as I usually do (joking around, of course), to PLEASE not do a headstand in Mommy's lap.

"I didn't," she said. "I just imagined it."
WHOA!!

In the car on the way to work, we sang "Five Little Ducks." Then:
"I won't go away, Mommy," Rachel said. "That would make me very sad."
"Promise, Rachel?" I pleaded.
"No," she answered. (I think she meant, no, she wouldn't go away!)

Tonight when we got home and I went into the bedroom to take my work clothes off I heard her holler from the kitchen, "I set the table!" AND SHE DID! Placemats, forks and spoons. I thanked her profusely, of course.
When she finished before I did, she slid off her seat, trotted into the living room and came back with her letter and number puzzles, the ones that have her fitting felt letters and numbers into puzzle shapes. "What's this, Mommy?" she asked, holding up a plus sign. I explained it to her, and she put every piece into its correct place. I was, again, very impressed.

The last thing she brough in from the living room was some play wooden fruit that I bought her a few months ago. She sliced up an orange for me and a lemon for Drew. "I save the pieces for Daddy because he's not here," she said, so matter-of-factly that I almost winced.

Then I heated up some chicken for her and beef stew for me.

"Can I clean up?" she asked when we were done, and I was so startled I replied, "um, sure, honey," and immediately got up to clear the dishes. So did she, until we were all done and it was time for Mommy Books. Again she clutched me tight when it was time to snuggle (did I mention that she actually ASKED to take a bath?) and I did some extra cuddling and tickling just in case she felt lonely. Because I do, a little bit.