The Peace of Christmas

Jason returned to work in the wee hours of the morning on the last day of school before winter holidays. I had a list of activities, travels, and crafts to fill the suddenly emtpy time and house. But day after day, for the last week, the kids have surprised me. Instead of needing distraction and comfort, they have been relaxed, lazy, and independent. We all sleep in late every day, nobody gets dressed until lunch, and they play happily with new toys and video games.

I had feared the second separation from Jason would be harder than the first, but it seems I was wrong. It was heart wrenching, for sure, as George understood the implications of Daddy saying good-bye in a way he hadn't previously. But, by understanding, he was able to deal with it more quickly and move on. Emma sent Daddy on his way with a smile and a wonderful, funny letter about the proper way to catch desert lizards. They both talk about Daddy often, and the Daddy Dolls have participated in many adventures this week; but now they see that, though he goes away for long amounts of time, he does return. And the peace we've experienced this week shows me that our temporary family of three has returned to the comfortable routines we established during the previous six months. We can do this.

Happy Holidays from our family to all of you.