Double Standard

So I get home and the little one is sitting in front of the television. Not an odd thing but she normally runs over to me when I get home but no big deal. So I change my clothes and get relaxed and she hugs me and I feel her head. Is she burning up? I mean I just came from outside so maybe it was me. Well, I got the thermometer and what popped up? One zero what? 101? So I showed this to the person who had her most of the day (no names being used as to protect the innocent) and her jaw dropped. So I laid her down and gave her some medication and she took a nap. My issue with this is that no one noticed and if the roles were reversed I would have been looked upon like I was the worst father ever. It's a double standard when it comes to raising a child. If I leave a wet diaper on I get that mean look and get sent for a timeout. In contrast she is allowed an excuse or even worse the privilege of me just accepting it because why fight it? Mothers aren't perfect and fathers are just as flawed but allow us to learn and share because this is a a joint venture.

Trust

I'm scared...Terrified...Anxious. No, I'm not talking about putting in the car
seat for the first time, I'm talking about the first time I let someone watch my
daughter other than myself or my wife. It happened when I took my wife out for
Valentine's Day to a Wizards game against the Spurs(she loves them...really she does). I called home every 10-15 mins and texted in between. All I got in response was she is fine Kevin, stop calling!! My anxiety was ramped up even more when I called once to hear my lil girl screaming in the background. Finally I recieved a text that said, "she's asleep now". I knew she was in good hands, but that first time was so mentally rough. I realized as a parent you have to expose your child to
different situations in order for them to grow and to let yourself grow as a
parent. The next challenge I remember was when I let my best-friend drive her
around. My hand was forced. It was, "Kevin, either you let me take her on
errands or I can't watch her!" I remember putting the car seat in and I felt the
panic setting in. Even though my best-friend, one of the best drivers I know,
was behind the wheel I was about to change my mind. Sophia looked at me as I
buckled her in and she looked around the car like, ummmmm...where are you going?
I closed the door and she was fine and I had to get over it. Of course, I wanted
to get in my car and follow them but decided against it. Interacting with
different people and their rules help can help children understand some
boundaries they take for granted at home, so it is something that should happen
every now and then. I remember when the daycare lady was taking her to the zoo,
I said "call me when you get there and call me when you leave." She said "I
will, but you know when she is with me, she is like one of my kids." I replied,
" I know but no matter where my daughter is or who she is with, she is always my
responsibility." Btw she spent the night at a friends house recently and I slept
fine for about an hour that night. I'm getting better as the years roll along.
Two so far and counting...

She fell....Oh No!!!!!!

So my two year old and I went to the playground for like the hundreth time. She is experienced enough to climb up the steps and wait for me to say "1,2,3 Go!" So what made today different. I'm not sure but it all happened in slow motion. All I saw was my daughter coming down three steps and then she took flight and covered some distance also (thinking long jump and track scholarships) before she landed. Unfortunatly she landed face first and it wasn't good. I ran over and saw scrapes and no cuts but lost skin. I wanted to do surgery right there but if I was hectic she would be. She was crying and blood was there so I rushed her in the house and kept my cool. I hit the door like a brick and said "Washcloth, peroxide and ointment stat." Okay I didn't say stat but everything else was right. Instead I got Huh, what happened? Listen I need action so I got everything and cleaned her up. It was traumatic to my baby and she had to take a nap. I thought I handled it pretty well but I hated her in pain. She woke up and was fine after that and I was ok until the next morning. When I saw how my daughters face looked I wasn't prepared. It is what happens to kids but let me tell you I was going to set the playground on fire. It hurt seeing her face looking like that. My little princess. She hasn't seen that playground since it happened. I keep saying its chilly outside.