What Happens When Mommy Leaves

Last weekend, I left my husband and kids overnight for the first time ever.  I was going to LA to be with my mom, and I was certain that the house would disintegrate into utter chaos before my plane left the ground and that I would come home to find my husband rocking back and forth in a corner, tears streaming down his face.

It turns out, that's just how I am after a long spell alone with the kids.  S. enjoyed every minute of it -- in this picture, he's taking the kids home from a trip to the Little Farm petting zoo.  He says his technique was simply non-resistance: whatever the kids wanted to do, he pretty much went along with. He's even encouraging me to leave town again this weekend.  I have a lot to learn from this man.

I also have a lot to learn from my kids. I got "the call" today: the  school, telling me that Cody had been badly bitten by another kid and to come take him to the doctor right away.  S. and I both descended immediately on the school, alight with barely tamped rage at the unspeakable savagery of the little biter.  We found Cody chatty and happy, excited by all the attention.  And while we could barely meet the teacher's eyes for fear of shooting flames at them, Cody blithely waved his normal cheerful goodbyes to all his friends...including the biter. 

Unless you become like little children...