We Talk Friday
(WTF)
This is a semi-regular series that I will run on Fridays to hold discussions on a current topic from the week gone. The aim is to keep them light and conversational, though some might be heavier - regardless of the content topic itself though, just have some fun engaging and discussing with whoever happens to put in the effort in the comments section below.
We Talk Friday Ep. 13: Summer Breaking
It was the last day of school in Finland and the last for Smallsteps at that school, as she will shift to a more music orientated school in the fall. Yes fall - or "autumn" as I actually call it. The summer hasn't even started yet, but it is going to be about 10 weeks off for the school kids, which will take them through to mid-August.
Who is meant to look after them?
Sure, I am not working at 100% at the moment (or even close to it), so it is fine. But most years both my wife and I have been working and we get four weeks of leave each summer. That means, that even if we didn't have any overlap, we would still be about two weeks short. In the past we have had grandparents look after her here and there, but they are advancing in age rapidly and aren't as comfortable with it as earlier.
Smallsteps is getting older now and can spend more time by herself and with friends in the neighbourhood, but I just wonder what it is like for the parents working full-time with younger kids. When Smallsteps was younger and it was more of an issue, it was also Corona time, so we were able to take turns working from home as necessary. That is not as much the case now though.
There are various "summer clubs" that can go for a week or so, but they are pretty expensive for what they are, and still, they will only cover a week of time. Smallsteps wasn't interested, once she found out her friend wasn't going to go to one. I think they both would have had a ball doing arts and crafts, or some sport thing.
But this year, I don't mind her staying home.
This year, I get to be a stay at home dad who gets to spend a lot of time with her, doing whatever we want on each day, without it having to be anything special at all. This year, we get to hangout together, potter around the garden, or go to the city by tram, or kick a ball around in the park. This year, there will be no pressure to be anywhere else.
The last time I had this opportunity, was in 2021.
That is not that long ago, but Smallsteps was a lot younger then and I was also recovering from a stroke, which meant that I wasn't exactly "in the right mind" for pretty much anything. We did stuff, but I don't really remember that much of what we did, and I definitely wasn't present for it, as my head felt disconnected from my body, not to mention the distance to other people.
This will be daddy-daughter summer.
And just maybe, she will be old enough to remember these times together, and cherish them in her future. Whether she does or doesn't isn't the point though. The point is that we have a slice of opportunity to spend time together, and who knows if we will get another chance.
Ten weeks of summer holidays though.
It wasn't like that when I was a kid.
Taraz
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