"I'm gonna be sad about you going back to work tomorrow," Sierra made her thoughts known after CA Cop informed her that his final day off for the week had arrived and was drawing to a quick close.
I really love his days off. He switches with 3 days off one week and 4 days off the next. I know that's a blessing. Chores and cooking are somewhat put on hold and we usually find ourselves running around town with miscellaneous errands to accomplish and two little ones in tow. We shop, we browse, we get groceries, we patch uniforms, we visit family and we do everything together. Usually all four of us. It's awesome. I know its cliche but I cherish his time with us. I absolutely do. We are a solid family unit when he's with us.
On his working days he's gone from about 5:30 AM until 8:00 PM (as long as he gets off on time). Me and the kids are tucked into our toasty beds upon his departure in the morning and I'm the only one up during his arrival in the evening. So the kids can realistically go 3 or 4 days per week without even catching a glimpse of their dad.
On CA Cop's first morning back to work this week I heard Shasta jabbering in his crib at about 7:30am. I carried him into my empty bed for morning cuddle time, as is the usual routine. He squealed and began lifting up the blanket saying "Where daddy go?" I realized my long pillow was under the blanket in CA Cop's vacant space and Shasta thought daddy was hiding from him as he often will do on his mornings off. It made the start of our day feel a little glum in comparison to the morning before. I'm grateful that my kids appreciate his presence in our home as much as I do and miss him when he's gone.
Well, he has been assigned to a new shift come January. He changes quarterly and I've found that for a really bad shift that's just about how long I can stand it!
Drum roll...........
CA Cop will be on the swing shift. 3:00pm to 3:00am. This one will be new for us. I don't even know what to expect. He'll leave our house around 1:30pm or so each day and return around 4:00am (if he gets off on time :)). Things I'm trying to figure out: when do I cook dinner? Will he want breakfast or dinner when he wakes up? Should I just move into the spare room and bathroom so the kids don't wake him up when they come to wake me in the morning and so that I can get ready for the day before noon? So anyhow, there will be some kinks to work out, but I think I'm happier about this than graves. Hopefully he will be able to sleep better since he won't be completely backwards, just partially!
As I reflect back to where we were in this process a year ago (not hired, not knowing) I am truly grateful for God's hand in our life. Faith is important to us and has carried us through some difficult times. We are blessed to have the kind of peace in our life that can only be brought through Him.
So, cheers to new experiences and new adventures and to the swing shift!
Wishing you luck with the new schedule. And you might want him to move to the spare room because then only one person has their "routine" changed, rather than all three of you. Just a un-asked for thought, there. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays!
Meadowlark, I agree with your "un-asked for thought." I was going to say the same thing.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the new shift. Indubitably rotates shifts every 28 days but will start the new year the way he ended it...on daylights. So I get a less zombified boyfriend for two whole months!
We are just ending swings and will be switching to a new shift in Jan. We were on swings for about 15 months. I'm not gonna lie ~ those first 3 months or so were really rough on me. Have you been on swings before? Just give yourself (each other!) lots and lots of grace.... and permission to do it "wrong" for a while! :)
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