Thank Heavens for Bubbles and Scrat

15 May 2013

Dear Josslyn,

As I was approaching the door on my return home from work today, I could hear you crying inside the house. You weren't happy. I wasn't greeted with the usual applause, smile and hug. Instead, I got tears and pouting.

I picked you up and knew by the look on your face and your mom's that the day had so far not been your happiest.

Your pouting lower lip was the first   expression you gave me in the delivery room, and I've been a sucker for it ever since.

I tried to calm you down and it took awhile. Eventually you and I ended up blowing bubbles in your room.

The turtle bubbles we got at the reptile man show are the best bubbles ever.

You even took the wand from me and dipped it in the solution and blew your own bubble.

You made several attempts after that weren't as successful and ultimately decided dipping the wand and taking it out was just as fun for you regardless of bubbles coming out.

You had another "moment" when I took the bubbles away, and wouldn't even read a book with me,so we went to the fail safe to settle you down, Scrat.

As soon as you saw me bring up the Vudu on the TV you sat down and stopped crying.

It wasn't long until you were giggling at your favorite pre-historic rodent bounding after nuts.

We made it through a few episodes before mom notified us dinner was ready.

She made some chicken pasta with new made alfredo sauce. You seemed to enjoy it and ate your whole plate, and followed up with some strawberries.

You stayed pretty calm after dinner (despite the post-meal antics at the table) which made it easier for mom to put you to sleep.

Your mom went straight to bed after that, while I stayed up trying to make progress in my life checking email, looking up job qualifications and openings and wondering if I could get them if I  applied.

With one month left on our apartment lease, I'm feeling the pressure to do something.

I was a bit perplexed yesterday when you and I came back from delivering papers.

I couldn't help but notice how messy the house was. It made me wonder what you and mom do most of the day while I'm away.

I wondered if your recent bout of not feeling well was so irritating that you were taking all of mom's time, and I felt like a bad husband and father.

Your degree of happiness tends to very directly affect the happiness level of those around you, especially your mother and I.

You are not the only roommate not feeling well in our apartment currently. Something wrong with your mom that's bothering her, and there is more tension than usual amongst all of us.

I'm sorry you don't feel well, and your stuffy nose makes it hard for you to enjoy life or sleep well (it's 2am and you've been coughing and making talking noises in your room on and off for the past 6 hours). I want you to feel better.

I want everyone to.

Love,
Insomniac Dad