Signs of Fall are slowly appearing here in Portugal. The leaves changed to lighter shades of greens and yellow before turning brown, falling and filling up the sidewalks. The evenings and mornings are very cool. Up until a few days ago, it was still warming up into the 70's. This week, we've required long sleeve shirts as it's stayed in the 60's (I know this seems warm to my Alaska friends - but when it's in the 80's for months on end, 60-degree, windy weather is quite a change for us).
After dropping Olivia off at school each morning, Lila and I either go to a playgroup or she joins me during a physical therapy session (I injured my MCL a few weeks ago running - not sure if it's post-worthy right now). Then, we pick up Olivia and head home for lunch and naps. After dinner, I immediately start a long-bedtime routine. I recently started getting the girls ready for bed at 6:30. I give them my undivided attention (no TV, computer or phone). We read books, have baths (on bath nights) and start the process of going to bed. If I try to put them to bed quickly, I have more outbursts and resistance. So, I've tweaked the bedtime routine and Olivia (I had the biggest problem with her) is going to bed quite nicely now.
Daddy Who?
DH has been working long hours. He sees the girls, briefly, in the mornings for about 3-5 minutes, if he sleeps in. An average work day begins at approximately 6:30am, and ends a 9:30pm. If he has a function to attend, he'll work until 11:00pm or later. Lately, he has worked weekends. The girls do not understand his desire (need) to sleep in on his free weekends. Imagine working 70 or more hours a week, all the while, looking forward to sleeping in on the weekend, only to have your toddlers jump on you at 6:50am, Saturday morning, begging you to play with them.
He's also been away on TDY a lot. In fact, he's leaving for another week tomorrow. His travel and work schedule has begun to grate on the girls and I. Olivia is acting out. She's a daddy's girl and this has been really hard on her. My patience has started to wear thin and so on. If he were deployed, it would be, in some ways, easier, because you develop a different frame of mind. A little bit of dad here and there becomes a tease and all become frustrated.
All that being said, I hate to blog about this because many of my blogger friends have deployed spouses. And, personally, I feel moaning and groaning about my husband's long hours is a bit insensitive. My DH does crawl into bed with me at night and when the going gets really tough, I have to remind myself of that. Many wives are crawling into bed at night, engulfed in loneliness, and hoping that their spouse is safe. They deserve a shout out! I know they have it harder than I do right now!!
We're all hoping his rough schedule lets up soon. However, I'm aware that it may not. So, I'm trying to grin, bear it and figure out new ways of managing and adjusting to it on a day-to-day basis.
Other than that, we've been fairly healthy, so far (Liv is coming down with a cough, as I write). Liv enjoys school and Lila is still as sweet as ever. And, despite DH's crazy schedule, I still wouldn't trade living here for anything!
