Promoted to Dad

A few days ago, she added a new word to her vocabulary, which seems to increasing rapidly now. The word was ‘happy’. We started playing a simple game, asking her if she was happy, and she simply had to say her newly discovered word. Soon she picked up that any sentence ending in happy could be answered that way. Are you happy? Happy. Is mama happy? Happy. Is papa happy? Happy. I was. Happy. The funny thing is that had I asked myself that question, I wouldn’t have been too sure. I might have said yet, but would have still added a few clauses. When she said it. It was absolute. In that moment, I was truly happy. Sweetheart, I am not smart enough to figure out why this happened. Maybe now that you’ve told me I’m happy, you could also figure out the answer in a few years?

We were separated for two weeks this time. Yes that implies we’ve been separated before. It’s been one of the hardest two weeks. But it was much harder getting back. I dread seeing her again. Of course I long to see her. It’s just that the last few times, it was as if she was being introduced to a stranger. I hate admitting it but I’m almost jealous of my own wife, who is loved by her always, unquestioned, constantly and completely.   I have to win her over time and again. This time was different! She saw me at the airport and immediately smiled. She opened her arms and came to me. She hugged me for a good two minutes. Oh what joy! I was remembered. Maybe even missed. This time was similar. It took time to realize that we weren’t exactly at that point in our relationship where we had left off. The hugs and kisses did not come that easily. She was not that comfortable eating from my hands or sleeping in my arms. I just want you to know that I will always try m...