They have a very special morning routine that I was made aware of when I'd ask Zeke to do something like brush his teeth or take his medicine and he would just cry "I want my daddy" or he would say "NO, I need my daddy."
Not only do they have a special morning routine, but the moment Kyle gets home in the afternoons Zeke is attached to him at the hip. Whether they are mowing grass, working in the garden, pulling weeds, riding the go cart or tractor, working in the shop, in the house vacuuming (one of Zeke's fave things), or just playing with his toys, Zeke does not leave Kyle's side until he goes to bed. With Kyle gone this week, Zeke's world has been turned upside down. I've tried everything I could think of to "replace" dad for the week, but I guess it's just not the same. I try to take Zeke to the shop, but he just says "no momma." So we've done our own things. We have played at Sharon's, had a play date with Graham, played on the fort, had a water gun fight, picked the garden, but at the end of the day he still cries for his dad.
Sharon made us a chart where we drew boxes for the days dad was gone and at the end of each day we placed a sticker in the box and the counted down the days we had left. Thinking a visual would help, but it did not. Zeke just loves his dad and nothing can replace that love. Now, I'm not saying Zeke doesn't love me or that we don't have a bond, we just have a different bond. He needs me to kiss is owies and make them better, he needs me to hold him when he is tired, he needs me to comfort him when he is sick, etc. His hugs are endless and his kisses are sloppy and he is the light of my life; however, I am more than ready for his daddy to be home. For our world to be complete again, Face Time just isn't the same for this 2.5 year old.
There have been nights that I put Zeke to bed and face time wouldn't work or Kyle was busy and we couldn't see him before bed and Zeke would just sadly cry for his dad. I'd lay him in bed, kiss him goodnight and remind him how many days till daddy was home, then I'd stretch out on the couch and just cry. It was heartbreaking that I couldn't get him to understand the concept that daddy was coming back, he was only gone for a couple days, or I would be upset with myself for not being more patient with him as he cried for his dad or maybe I didn't do enough with him, the list goes on and on. It doesn't help that I'm almost 8 months pregnant, emotional, and mentally and physically exhausted, but it was heart wrenching.
I know it's also been hard on Kyle, but needless to say Zeke and I will be going to ag teachers conference with Kyle the last week of July. I just can't handle him coming home for 6 days and then leaving for another week, so I worked things out at work and we are beyond excited to go with daddy, even if it's a week in Waco. :)
Here is a nice little video to show you how my mornings would go. This particular morning was the worst. Zeke doesn't usually get out of bed until Kyle or I go in there, but I walked in and Zeke was already on the floor kicking and screaming. I have no idea what was going on. Maybe he had a bad dream? Maybe he just needed to scream it out? Maybe he needed his daddy? Maybe he was just mad at the world? Maybe he rolled out on the wrong side? Who knows. All I know is once I got him to daycare I cried the entire way to my doctors visit. I was just done.
Not only has this week showed me the bond between Kyle and Zeke, but it has also made me appreciate the families of ag teachers. I was a very, very active in FFA all throughout high school, judging events, leadership events/camps, officer every year, state chorus, national chorus etc and as a student I never understood the sacrifice that was being made by my teachers (I had 4) and their families.
I had 1 teacher who reminds me of Kyle. He was there early before school and late after school working with students. It would be almost 7 pm and he would stop by my house to check on my goats and see how things were going. He was there when I showed at Houston, at my county show or any other show I went to. He was supportive and helped me grow as a person. He taught me leadership skills, responsibility and pushed me to my limits. He never told me I couldn't do something, he always told me I could! He introduced me to Texas Tech and soon after I became a Red Raider. I will forever be thankful to this man and the way he touched my life, we are still very close and he even said the blessing before our meal at our wedding! I was home a few years ago and was able to attend the FFA Banquet and his wife was there. I remember walking up to her and telling her thank you for giving her husband and explaining the things he had done in my life. It brought her to tears and me as well. I really didn't understand, until now.
So to all my friends who are the spouse of an ag teacher thank you. Thank you for allowing them to touch the lives of students, to make a difference in the lives of countless kids. As a person who was deeply touched by her ag teacher, trust me I know they are making a difference.
I'm a proud wife of an ag teacher, even through the struggles.
Mary
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