Things to Do in Cleveland When Your Spouse is Alive in Denver
M went to Denver for a long weekend. She left on Wednesday, October 9, with the intention of meeting up with some Peace Corps friends. That didn't happen for various reasons, but her trio of high school friends Sarah, Jess and Sharon to have ladies weekend. They got an AirBNB with a hot tub, went hiking, visited hot springs, did some antiquing, etc.. M returned on Monday, October 14.
If you want to hear more about that trip you'll have ask M, but the trip triggered a milestone. This was the very first time that M traveled away from Birdie, and aside from a few hours here and there and one in town overnight, the first time M was really away from Birdie at all. It went really well.
We reworked the schedule so that Birdie went to pre-school on Wednesday/Thursday/Friday instead of Monday/Wednesday/Friday. That let me get some work done in the morning. I'd pick her up from preschool and we'd do some brief activity, and then while she was napping in the afternoon I'd get some more work done. Let's hear it for a flexible preschool schedule and an even more flexible work from home schedule.
We didn't have Torah Tots due to the high holidays, so instead we did a special little kid Yom Kippur program Saturday morning in the park. We had break fast at my cousin Deann and Amy's that night.
On Sunday we met up with my friends Carol & John and their daughters for brunch. Since one of their daughters is Birdie's current babysitter that went really well. Somewhat hilariously, it was Carol & John's anniversary. I had reached out to ask if they wanted to do brunch, and they said "oh, we're already having brunch, you should join us." And then they told me it was their anniversary, so we kind of sort crashed their anniversary brunch.
Sunday night, we met John & Danita at Frosty's, a newish Lakewood vegan dessert place that happens to be near the Madison Library and adjoining playground. They brought their grandnephew, and after ice cream we hit the playground then came over to our house for dessert. Frosty's was great, go support them if you like vegan desserts!
Also in this trip I took Birdie to swim lessons (Monday) for the second time and dance class for the first time. I enjoyed dance class, since I got to sit and read while she was in class.
Overall, Birdie did great without M. It actually abbreviated bedtime, because she refused to let me sing anything to her. She specifically said that she didn't like my songs. Thanks kid. She slept through every night and didn't have any "missing mom" related meltdowns the whole week.
If you want to hear more about that trip you'll have ask M, but the trip triggered a milestone. This was the very first time that M traveled away from Birdie, and aside from a few hours here and there and one in town overnight, the first time M was really away from Birdie at all. It went really well.
We reworked the schedule so that Birdie went to pre-school on Wednesday/Thursday/Friday instead of Monday/Wednesday/Friday. That let me get some work done in the morning. I'd pick her up from preschool and we'd do some brief activity, and then while she was napping in the afternoon I'd get some more work done. Let's hear it for a flexible preschool schedule and an even more flexible work from home schedule.
We didn't have Torah Tots due to the high holidays, so instead we did a special little kid Yom Kippur program Saturday morning in the park. We had break fast at my cousin Deann and Amy's that night.
On Sunday we met up with my friends Carol & John and their daughters for brunch. Since one of their daughters is Birdie's current babysitter that went really well. Somewhat hilariously, it was Carol & John's anniversary. I had reached out to ask if they wanted to do brunch, and they said "oh, we're already having brunch, you should join us." And then they told me it was their anniversary, so we kind of sort crashed their anniversary brunch.
Sunday night, we met John & Danita at Frosty's, a newish Lakewood vegan dessert place that happens to be near the Madison Library and adjoining playground. They brought their grandnephew, and after ice cream we hit the playground then came over to our house for dessert. Frosty's was great, go support them if you like vegan desserts!
Also in this trip I took Birdie to swim lessons (Monday) for the second time and dance class for the first time. I enjoyed dance class, since I got to sit and read while she was in class.
Overall, Birdie did great without M. It actually abbreviated bedtime, because she refused to let me sing anything to her. She specifically said that she didn't like my songs. Thanks kid. She slept through every night and didn't have any "missing mom" related meltdowns the whole week.