Mike's been away for the last couple of days (back tomorrow!) and as usual it's gone a lot better than I expected. My kids have an uncanny way of meeting my emotional needs when he's gone: they are more sympathetic and more affectionate. It helps that we treat ourselves while he's away - we go out when we want to and eat when and what we want to!! (It's kind of like the kids giving up naps - at first you wonder how you'll cope, but then you actually like the new freedom of not having to be home at nap time...) However, I'd like to keep my husband, please, God. I have no desire to sign up for single motherhood.

What was really cool was that today we ran into Jennifer with Ruby in the park, along with Stephanie and Cris and their young 'uns from the Friday Carrefour group. Ruby and Felix (Cris' son) are supposed to be going to the same 3-5 year old group as Chloe and Zach this fall. (Always assuming Zach, Ruby and Felix toilet train in time...) It was encouraging to see the 4 of them play together (I wish I had a picture of them with the inch worm they were watching), and for me to hang out with the mothers. It's so important for me to make a connection with the other mothers in the kids' class, since I'm definitely overwhelmed by the thought of not getting that mom-time that I've been used to. It was a good day.