Dinner Drama

 

Yesterday evening.

"Hey, little man! Would you like to eat dinner now, before Daddy comes home,
or wait and eat with Daddy?"
"I want to wait for Daddy to come home."
"Ok"

A little closer to Daddy's arrival I thought I'd check again...
"Are you hungry now? Would you like dinner early or wait for Daddy?
"I'll wait for Daddy."

Just before 6.30pm a tired, hardworking Daddy gets home, takes off his boots and walks in the door. As I set dinner on the table I announced, "Daddy is home!!!! Hop up to the table for dinner please!"

Begin meltdown here!
"But I want to eat BEFORE Daddy gets home!!! (tears) "I don't want to eat with Daddy here!!! (more tears and inconsolable sobbing) "I want to eat with Daddy at work!!! (flailing around on the floor) "He HAS to go back to work!!!!!" (ups the volume) "IT'S RUINED!!! I CANT EAT DINNER NOW!!! HE HAS TO GO BACK TO WORK!!....

As I console Daddy and remind him he is loved dearly by his child, the meltdown continues for around about 15 minutes.

Poor Daddy comes up with the idea to go outside and feed the dogs and to take his time about it so the little man can sit up and eat dinner, Daddy free! He walks out the door. I play along, "Bye Daddy. We will miss you while you are at work."
The 4 year old chimes in "Bye Daddy."

Drying his eyes he sets himself up on his chair to start dinner.
"Mummy, where is Daddy?"
"He's going back to work, so you can eat your dinner."

Wait for it....

"But I want Daddy here!!! I don't want him to go to work!!!! "I WANT TO EAT MY DINNER WITH DADDY HERE!!!!

Of course you do! "Mummy will stop him from going!!! I'll go get him to come back home ok?
(sniff, sniffle) "Ok"

Daddy walks back in to the kitchen to big brown teary eyes and a smile and helps the little man eat his dinner.

That man is amazing!! I'd have been in tears at such rejection!

This journey of Parenthood isn't always easy. It doesn't always make sense. It can be exhausting and confusing, but, it is a precious gift. It is an adventure. It is awesome and worth it!! .....and boy are we going to laugh when we look back at this moment!