No one ever told me how hard the second kid would be. Even if L had been like E, I think it would have been hard.  But this is just something else sometimes.

Two hands and one kid – they fit. I never know how much of a hands-on Dad I was. Verbal communication isn’t always a strong suit of mine when I can just grab and do. I can multi-task for days but trying to get one kid to get their shoes on while spending 15 minutes rocking the other to sleep or feeding a bottle – not my strong suit. Goes without saying that the almost 30 minute screaming fit we get EVERY SINGLE DAY from L is just draining.

There are moments still when I wonder if I am the right Dad for my boy – moments I never had with the girl. And it’s a wonder because I so strongly wanted the boy first. God, are you laughing up there? You gave me this kid so I will love him through this and raise him the best that I can.

It’s only natural I guess for working parents with children to have a discussion about daycare. One of the first thing that comes up is the cost. I think we should change the narrative up a bit and talk about the “care” part.

I’ll divulge some personal info – for E, my 2 1/2 year old, the cost comes out to about $32 a day for up to 9 hours a day. That breaks down to about $4/hr. Find me even the most desperate of teenagers willing to watch a child for that amount of money. Granted, it’s not perfect. They may give her milk when we would have given her water. They may change her diaper a half hour too late. They may forget to fill out her daily info sheet or any other small trivial thing. They are not her parents – we are. They are just trusted shepherds during the day. We wish ours had a microwave to make a bit fresher meals but understand the liability and space issues around that. Plus, imagine trying to heat up and cool down 20 microwaved meals all with different instructions. I know my kid is special but I Know she’s not the only one there too. Do we wish they were open just a TAD bit later so it didn’t affect B’s play rehearsal and my ability to pick her up sometimes. Sure. Again, small potatoes. For E (and soon L) to be at school with Becky all day has so many benefits. Becky can check on them whenever she wants and there is only ONE place for us to drive in the morning – even for me, it’s right off the interstate so it’s a small detour to drop them off.

But back to my main point, E has been with Ms. Eagle, Ms. Summers and Ms. Thaxton (amongst others but these are the primary people so far…) ever since she was a little over 4 months old. She loves them and they love her. She is learning an insane amount there. Just in this Year 3 of daycare, the phrases and songs she has come home with that were not taught to her by us have been remarkable in scale and number. Even with long breaks for summer vacation, fall, spring and summer breaks, they are a big part of her life and upbringing. During the week, she spends more awake time with them than with us (a sad realization). The other day I stayed around daycare just a bit longer. I think I was a little tired and wanted to make sure I had everything dropped off – lunch, milk, snack,etc. I proceeded to watch 5 of the little girls have back to back to back meltdowns. Some were on the ground sprawled out, some yelling, some of their faces were scrunched up in frowns that looks to be permanent. You couldn’t pay me enough money to have stayed another 15 minutes. But these ladies do it for people who aren’t even their blood or kin.

All this to say, be thankful for the people watching your kids. If you don’t like them, change the situation. I’m excited for L to be there with his sister soon.

Thank you to all the childcare professionals out there.

Emerson will be 1 YEAR OLD in under 2 months. And I will be a Dad of a 1 year old. How did this all happen so fast?

She’s about to have her first Valentine’s Day. Not too many ‘firsts’ left.