FOR A LITTLE WHILE

I awoke early and started my work day. It was not a four-day weekend for me. My son was awake rather early as well. Day three of his longish break.

He stayed in his room for most of the day, but left in the early afternoon to ride his bike. I continued to work until my daughters arrived for an early dinner. We had planned it to be a bit later, but plans have a way of changing.

‘Apparently it’s a huge inconvenience for them for us to go so can u I pick us up and I’ll get them to get us after’, came the text from my older daughter.

From past experience, I knew her father would not be willing to come pick them up from my place. I reminded her of that.

‘Ya they will’, she replied.

‘Just so you know, I’m feeling sick but would still like to see you’, I let her know. I wish I felt better. The last time I was sick was in June. After my return from Ireland with my younger daughter. Albeit this time it wasn’t as bad as last time. It happens when we neglect ourselves for one reason or another. Or do too much at once. Or both.

She wrote back that the parents finally agreed to drop them off. Earlier than planned. But only because they had to drop off their 2-year-old daughter at gymnastics.

‘Well, I’m sure you will do much better with your kids’, I texted back to my daughter.

My children’s life, thus far, has not been the best experience. Definitely not the way I wanted things to end up for them. However, I am certain that my children will break the cycle of neglect and disregard, among other things.

‘ya 100%...God damn’, she replied.

‘You’ve learned a lot the hard way…unfortunately’, I wrote back.

‘Yea that’s good at least ik what not to do and what wrong’, my daughter agreed.

My conclusion with all of this is that some people are simply not meant to be parents. Certainly, one can claim a bad example from their own parents, but there is always a way to make things better. You need to have the willingness to do so. I realise that I can only control my actions and reactions, so I refrain from speaking my mind. As I have done so in the past. You cannot change people if they are not willing to do the work and make the effort to change themselves.

When the girls arrived, they were quick to show me a photo of the sky outside. It was beautiful and unique. And looked a bit like cotton balls scattered about. I ran outside to see it for myself and to capture my own photo.

The girls retreated to their brother’s room and I started assembling the Southwest Bowl salads. We had a lot left over from yesterday’s dinner, so we all enjoyed some more of it today.

After dinner, the girls and I watched a show on Netflix. The only time I ever watch anything is when they are here. My son was busy with thousands of Lego pieces strewn about his closet floor, trying to find which missing pieces he needed to order so he could complete his old construction set. When the episode of our show was over, I took my girls home.

Though our visit tonight was a short one, I was glad to see my two daughters. At least for a little while.