After a 4 week paternity leave, I’m getting ready to go back to work. I’ve taken a shower, trimmed my beard, wearing a decent button up shirt and slacks. Sempi walks by and he says: Sempi: Appa you look different. I’m gearing up for a compliment. Sempi: You look like a porcupine. That’s his way of noticing that I haven’t combed my hair. Me: Thanks a lot man. I should have known better....
Sempi and I are at our favorite neighborhood coffee shop, reading books and eating bagels. We picked up a book with a collection of funny poems. Here’s one: “One sister for sale,One sister for sale,One crying and spying young sister for saleI’m really not kidding so who’ll start the biddingDo I hear a dollar?A nickle?A penny?Oh isn’t there isn’t there isn’t there anyOne person who will buy this sister for saleThis crying spying old young sister for sale....
Me: I noticed that you did not eat your almonds that I packed for your lunch yesterday. Sempi: Yes I like to look at them for lunch. Me: Huh. So do you want me to pack it again today? Sempi: Yeah. (in a matter of fact voice).
When I was a little kid which was about three or four years ago I used to go to IKEA with Yoshi. Whenever we went I always wanted to get their $1 ice cream. Sometimes Yoshi would indulge and other times I was too much of a wuss to ask her. Today I went to Ikea with my son and my mom. After sending my mom to go sight see the various displays, we decided to hit the food court....
TL;DR: Last week of my leave ended with some epiphanies and personal growth. I still firmly believe I’d rather be a stay at home dad than a working dad. I’m glad to say that I bounced back from week 3 with great success. I finally broke through some mental barrier and felt a strange calm wash over me. I started controlling my emotions better. I still get angry when Sempi does something that I explicitly asked him not to do, but I don’t show that anger to him....