Second nature life

In the past nine years of being a father, I have not have that many opportunities to be the primary caregiver. Cyndi's great about making sure the kids have everything they need. Since she homeschools the kids, they have certain routines that they follow. I've actually only had the kids to myself, for longer than a few hours, once. It was several years ago when Cyndi and her best friend, Tressa, went to San Francisco for a long weekend. I had to clothe them, feed them, bathe them, change them, entertain them, and ensure they were safe. Pretty standard stuff for parents. I think I did okay. The kids survived the weekend without insult or injury, and Cyndi got some much needed R&R.

Since I travel with my job, I get the opportunity to "get away" quite frequently. It's not as glamorous as it may seem. Airports, cities, hotel rooms, meeting spaces, restaurants, and bars all tend to mold together in my mind. A couple of weeks ago, I flew from Chicago to Louisville in the morning, and then from Louisville from Baltimore later that day. When I got to the Louisville Airport, I realized that I had never been there before. I have been to Louisville a few times, but I had always driven. Yet, I knew how to maneuver myself from the gate to the rental counter to the rental car to my destination, without difficulty. Frequent travelers get used to things that people who don't travel often, despise.

I know the security routine at Midway and O'Hare without thinking about it. I know when to pull out my ID and when to put it away, I know at what point in line I need to take off my shoes, pull out my laptop, and take my quart sized zip-lock bag with my toiletries out for the x-ray machine. Some airports, like the one in Louisville, have different rules about what can go in the tray together or not. You learn it, file it in your brain, and retrieve it for later when needed.

Much like being a parent.

Cyndi and I complement each other in many ways. I often say that she has three kids to take care of, and I mean it more than a joke. She takes great care of all three of us and doesn't think twice about it. I haven't done a load of laundry in so many years I've lost count.

It's comforting to know that the kids are well cared for when I am busy working (or traveling). She works much harder than I do on any given day...much harder.