I am usually the one to handle most of the care, transportation, doctor appointments, and daily stuff with Amanda.  Oh, Ted helps out plenty.  But I usually do the most because Ted is the one with the full-time job.  He’s the breadwinner.  He brings home the bacon.

I didn’t mean for it to happen, but today we traded places.  Ted had to work, but because he was local and not driving to another state, he could be hands-on with Amanda.  My new job is in an out-patient surgical center and we start real early in the morning.  And, I can’t exactly tell everyone to take a break while I go fetch my daughter or take her some lunch.

I left the house at 7am.  (I have to add that I had Amanda dressed, fed, and a lunch made for her to eat before I left – sigh, martyr martyr.)  Ted’s job had him making a quick run into a steel mill account before getting home to take himself and Amanda to eleven o’clock dental cleaning appointments.  (Yes.  Woo-hoo!  I didn’t have to take Amanda to the dentist!  Oh – she is pretty good about it, but may I remind every one of Amanda’s sensitive gag reflex??)

When Amanda is in my care and something bad happens, I try not to bother Ted while he is working unless it is an emergency.  Ted knew he couldn’t phone me – not while I am taking care of post-surgical patients.

So – it started with this phone text from Ted to me:

“Call when you can”

“Oh Lord, what does that mean?” I wondered to myself as I snuck a peek at my vibrating phone.  “I hope no one sees me looking at my phone.”

So I texted him back when I had a chance:

“Done soon cant call yet – everything ok?”

My mind is going bonkers!  I am thinking that something is wrong, and yet he doesn’t want to divulge details and get me worried and upset.  But the measly little bit of information he did text me is driving me crazy!  Did Amanda throw up?  Did something happen at the dentist?  Argh.

His response to my texted question?

“It is now.”

Really?  Oh that calmed me right down.  Not.  So everything wasn’t ok, but it is now??  But then, I figured, whatever it was, things must be under control now.  I might as well pay attention to my own job-at-hand and trust my hubby.

I called, of course, as I drove home from work.  The ‘problem’ had nothing to do with Amanda and was an issue Ted quickly resolved.  (big exhale!)

I told Ted how his text had stirred up a good dose of worry.  He apologized and said that, next time, he would give more details in his text.  He also added that if it had truly been an emergency, he would have let me know!

I think the event was a good lesson to both of us.  I learned to trust and to not jump so quickly on the worry wagon.  Ted learned to juggle his job, a dental appointment, and even other issues while being today’s designated caregiver.

Try trading places with someone!

What’s the worst that could happen?  (Besides Amanda puking!)

just Laurel