For a long time before we moved to Newfoundland I was G's primary caregiver. Ever since her maternity leave ended, Jan had to be at work regularly, and I was the one who was home the most. When I wasn't actually in class I was often home with her. Now Jan is back on maternity leave as we are waiting for Baby 2: Electric Boogaloo to be born, and I'm struggling with the heavy workload of three Phd classes. So I'm going to the school every day--whether I have classes or not--to work.
And although I've only been doing this for about a month, I'm finding it surprisingly difficult to go to work every day and leave my daughter. It's hard to come home and ask Jan how G is doing, what she's been up to, what she did and learned to do, instead of seeing it all for myself. I also find, surprisingly, that since I've stopped being the parent who spends the most time with G, I've also stopped being the more patient parent. I used to secretly think that I was just a more patient person than Jan is, but now that I'm not spending all day with G anymore, it's harder to shift into a toddler's perspective--harder to be as patient with her as I would like to be. I miss that.
With all of that said, there is something really wonderful about coming home every evening to enthusiastic shouts of "Daddy! Daddy's home! Daddy! DADDY!".
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