Well in a few hours it will be around the time that #nomomweek started in our house. Yep, on Saturday night, my wife returned home and it was greeted with great excitement by all the men at Like A Dad.
Looking back, it went by pretty quick, which is good, but it is only over the last few days that I am fully realizing just how tiring it was.
How do the single parents do it all the time?
Anyways.
Last Monday, we were leaving Manitoba after a family wedding and the plan was we would all fly from Winnipeg to Toronto. Then my wife would stay in Toronto for work, while the boys and I carried on to Halifax.
That meant, taking the two dudes on the plane by myself. I was not worried. But I was bracing for some tests of stress and patience.
Both boys were tired and our little baby had a bad cold. Traveling with sick kids in my opinion can go really good or bad. Luckily for me, a sick baby meant a lot of sleep.
So here is a brief recap of how #nomomweek went from the time she left us at the airport, until she gave our boys a big hug on Sunday morning.
Photo album at the bottom.
Monday
- I figured the best way to take on the two boys at the airport and for the flight was food, food and more food. I hit Tim Hortons for a tray of snacks. Most of it got eaten.
- Harry kept having to go to the bathroom. Thank you to the lady who watched our bags.
- Harry started playing with someone else’s luggage.
- We went to use the family room to change Charlie before boarding. He was nice enough to have a big poop while we were waiting for the room to clear. Dodge that bullet.
- Upon boarding, we realized we were in the very back. Row 33. Nobody behind us.
- This was actually nice. I felt relief as it was just us in our row.
- Harry could go to the bathroom by himself (which he was proud to do 3 times) and I would not have to bug anyone.
- The downside. I could no recline my seat and I had a big dude in front of me who did recline.
- The flight went great. Charlie slept 90% of it and Harry just watched TV shows.
- Once it was over, many around us commented on how well the boys were. The flight attendants gave me a good review for travelling on my own.
- On the way off the plane, we were last of course. The pilots invited Harry into the cockpit. That blew his mind. He was talking about it for an hour.
- Bathroom, bags, park and fly, car and out. It went smooth. Harry made it better by pushing Charlie in the stroller while I managed the bags.
- Home sweet home after 11 hours door to door.
- The rest of the night was about unpacking, eating and getting the boys ready for school on Tuesday.
- Charlie was still a sick boy.
Tuesday
- Up early for school. Harry did not want to go. It was hard.
- We were all dressed and out the door by 7:45 am. I had low expectations for Charlie lasting an hour.
- I had some appointments that morning, so if he made it to noon I would have been happy.
- Both boys lasted all day! What a great surprise.
- During the day I cleaned, relaxed a bit with the Breaking Bad finale and then it was time to do the pick up.
- First I did a tuxedo pickup. What? See later.
- Dinner, playing, double bath and two bedtimes….I was done. When is Katie coming back?
Wednesday
- Again, up early for school but this time Charlie was super hot again. Why did he go backwards?
- Dressed and out the door again and this time I had a free day to myself. Or did I?
- I dropped the boys off and before I could get out the door, they said Charlie had a high temp.
- I just called it right there and took him home. I had the time and I just wanted to get him better.
- He slept all morning and woke up looking even worse.
- Doctor time.
- Went to the clinic and got a prescription for antibiotics.
- After picking up drugs, car battery died.
- CAA boosted us.
- Home 4 hours later to let Charlie sleep more before going back to get Harry.
- Pickup was fine. Dinner was fine. The night was going great.
- I had the hang of this whole parenting by myself thing.
- Bedtime went off without a hitch and I even stayed awake for Survivor.
- Then the rails came off again.
- Harry was screaming he was sick.
- It was a task just to calm him down.
- Finally we agreed he could sleep with me.
- We did not really go to sleep until 3 am. He was full of snot and could not get comfy.
- What a long night.
Thursday
- With only a few hours of sleep, I was not ready to get up for the school run.
- Charlie seemed much better on the drugs and ate a full breakfast.
- I let Harry sleep until I had to get him up.
- Funny enough, he came down like a brand new man. Smiling and laughing.
- Great!
- Got both kids off to school and the stayed all day.
- Harry had a fun day with new friends and even ate some food.
- Thursday night hit me hard.
- I made an early dinner and we played before an early bed for both boys.
- By the time I cleaned up and did a few things on the computer, it was 9 pm.
- I lasted 15 minutes. Passed out and woke up at 10:30 pm. Went to bed.
- Soon, I will have help.
Friday
- We all slept until almost 8 am. Whoops.
- I turned that morning around and had the boys out the door in 30 minutes.
- Again, they both had great days but still had colds lingering.
- During the day I finally gave up trying to keep things clean. I took a “me” afternoon.
- I watched a movie and had a nap.
- Hey, it is needed.
- I picked the boys up, we played outside and had a nice dinner. Last night on my own.
- I did the double bath, double hair wash as they would have a sitter on Saturday night.
- Both boys were passed out by 8:15 pm.
- I watched TV and just relaxed as Saturday was going to be busy.
- Shark Tank finally.
Saturday
- No school. I had to come up with a plan to entertain the kids all day.
- Harry had soccer at 9 am. We watched and Charlie had a blast on the gym floor.
- Harry loved his class. He has a dance when he scores a goal.
- After soccer, we went to see what was at the City Harvest event going on in Halifax.
- We went to the water front. Walking around, playground, danger wave and then the surprise fun.
- We randomly got to go on the last ride of the season for Theodore Tugboat (for free!)
- Harry was blown away. A 30 minute ride in the harbour and free cookies.
- Charlie liked the free cookies especially.
- After the boat ride, we got in the car and went to the next thing.
- A free petting zoo with a donkey, some goats and a cow.
- Charlie fell asleep by this point.
- Harry loved the animals eating food from his hands.
- It was noon. Time to head home for lunch.
- Light lunch and then naps.
- I did it. I made it. Katie would be back later.
- Wait, there was so much more.
- It was the night of Katie’s work gala to raise money for the QEII hospital. Yep that is what the tux was for. Black tie all the way.
- I won’t go into the story because it was chaotic, but in the end I met Katie at the event and we looked sharp.
- The boys were home with a babysitter.
- We did it. We were reunited. I gave my wife a hug and we hit the party.
- What a reward after the week I had right?
- Home after midnight. We were all back in one house.
Sunday
- Wife was up first, hugged Harry and everything was getting back to normal.
I know I missed a lot. I know I could not do it justice of how tired I was. But I did it. #nomomweek went off without any major issues.
Do I want to do it again? Hell no. But I could if I had to.
Now if only we could all get rid of these colds.
6 months of parental leave trained me for this week – I think I won the gold medal and will be turning pro.