My husband just signed to play in France for the next season. It's good my kids like french fries! I know bad joke. The first day was filled with looking at the main attractions of his city on google. The second day was viewing rating for the best restaurants. The third day with shopping on my mind I wanted to know just how close to Paris he will be! Every time I remind him of what we want to do in the future, he reminds me that he has a job to do. Which means he is willing to take us to Mc. Donald's and drive to his games and back home! I understand he isn't there on vacation but, to feed his family which he kind of pointed out to me on the fourth day. So, I know my joy is to support him and I hope that the other players wives and girlfriends are friendly.
I’ve been through a lot of August goodbyes, and they never get easier. He goes and we will join him in September after his team finishes their training camp in Italy. Another country I wouldn't mind traveling too. As I'm reminded to say it's a business trip not vacation:( Also, I should say I get used to the good byes but, it's very difficult on the kids. His departure signals the beginning of a transition and adaptation for the family. The kids have spent 2-3 months in the summer spending every day with Daddy. They wake him up and have breakfast in the morning, play and wrestle throughout the day and enjoy Dad tucking them in at night. The summer is truly the vacation.
Once he leaves, we immediately get back into our daily “basketball season” routine. Breakfast with Daddy is now done over Skype or Facetime. While many parents think there is too much technology available to our children, I am so thankful for it. I’ve received many looks or comments about spoiled kids when people see our kids with their mini iPads. They don’t realize that these devices provide a connection from our kids to their Dad throughout the year. I’m not ashamed to admit our 2 year old knows how to call Daddy on Facetime all by herself. This is our normal.
“I don’t know how you do it when he’s gone!”!?!. What’s the alternative, to crawl into a corner and weep? Yes, I become a single mother for many months of the year. We are very fortunate to have an extended family that helps us. Blessed we can afford for me to be a stay at home mom. I knew I signed up for this life, and I wouldn’t change a moment of it. With all the challenges and loneliness we each endure, the blessings far outweigh them. I'm happy I can support my husband while he does what he loves. I can say he supports his family.
Let’s not forget all the amazing memories we’ve been able to make thanks to this crazy life of basketball. I have traveled to 6 countries and have been immersed in vastly different cultures. I have been to more countries than I have states(4) in America! I have had to drive in countries where rules of the road don’t exist. I had to buy groceries with foreign currency, while guessing at what meat I was buying. You learn very quickly how to say yes, no, hello and thank you in other languages. My husband is right. It's not a vacation. I now realize I miss our trips overseas. We do what works for our family, though many believe it wouldn’t work for them. I say, don’t knock it until you try it!
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