I have written many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many ODES TO THE WIFE, as Nina is an amazing mother and an awesome wife. But up till now, I have only written a single ODE TO THE DAD. So, that is why this one is more about me, then anybody else. Don’t worry, I am not planning on bragging about myself every week. I just want to brag about myself, so please enjoy.
Now that Niko is back in school, I don’t get a lot of time to hang out with him during the weekdays. My time with him in the weekday mornings is quick, but we have a fun time. Most of the time, it’s me who has to wake him up and neither of us are quite alert yet. I try my best to turn the least number of lights downstairs when he eats. So, I apologize to Niko if accidentally heated up a plate of orange juice or a cup of quiche! Just kidding, I actually do a good job of getting him fed and quenched. About thirty minutes later, we head back upstairs so he can use the bathroom. Sometimes, I am clock watching when he is in there and he finishes up with just in a nick of time! Then, I get him dressed and we head back downstairs to get shoes, eyeglasses, a drink, his lunch bag, his backpack, and Nina.
Niko gets home from school around 3 pm, and I work until 4 pm. When my 4 pm bell rings, I flip a switch and morph into a waiter, a chef, a desert chef, and a dishwasher boy. Sometimes, I prepare a menu in advance of him eating and let him choose; he likes when I do that. I even give him a survey afterwards so I can get feedback on everything from the variety, layout, and taste of his dinner! Then, almost ninety minutes later, we head back upstairs so he can use the bathroom. Once he is finished, it’s usually time for bed and Nina takes over. She stays with him in his bedroom until he falls asleep. Meanwhile, while she is in that dark bedroom (yeah, he likes it dark and quiet, just a few months ago, he had music playing all night long and lights on), I fold laundry and put it away and then I go back downstairs to do my household chores. I go up and down the stairs a lot!
Oh, also, in between eating and going to bed during the weekdays, I do have to get Niko cleaned a few times and that itself is always an adventure. Sometimes he complains about it, or thinks we don’t enough time, but I always say to him, we can be done in 10 minutes! Then, after he frets and finally gets in, he enjoys it and I always get wet. One time, I popped my head in to make sure he was ok, and I got soaked with the showerhead. We both giggled.
The household chores are cleaning the kitchen (it’s easy as I just put any dirty dishes and cups in the dishwasher), scooping the cat litter, and taking the trash outside. Then, I can finally eat and drink in silence and don’t have to worry about making sure Niko is good. This is also the time I have for myself so I can write or read a book. But, usually around 9 pm, I am ready to turn the lights off downstairs, push the button to run the dishwasher, and go upstairs to go sleep.
Now, the weekends for Niko and I are much different as I have much more time to spend with him doing things that Niko likes to do.
