Thursday, May 19, 2011

Kooky Monster




Me (The Daddy)
The Bean: Age 9
The Butterfly: Age 7
The Darling Wife


On those rare occasions where I have an actual job-job, it tends to be something out of town.  This is particularly hard on The Bean and The Butterfly.

I'll typically be gone 4-5 days a week.  This could last for several weeks at a time.  Or months.


Because of this schedule, I will often be at work until after 8 o'clock.  This makes talking to the girls difficult because I bump up against their bedtimes.


Surely, I could take minute out of work to talk to the girls, right?  Sadly, it doesn't always work that way.


So, while I'm busy being worker bee, a coworker made time for his daughter several times a day in 15 minute intervals.  Right in earshot of the rest of us.


How sweet, you think.  His daughter is more important to him than work.  Clearly, hearing his voice brightens his little girls day.


However.


His daughter is only seven months old.


He sings that "Poppa's Gonna Buy You a Mockingbird" song.  He's memorized a children's picture book called "Bubbles" which he happily recites several times per phone call - "Bubbles, bubbles on my nose.  Bubbles, bubbles on my toes."   You get the idea.


He makes animal sounds, some of which I am at a loss to identify.


But still, I wonder, is he forming an unbreakable bond with this girl, regardless of her young age?  Will his pure joy equate to joy from his daughter?


Or is he just nuts?