Welcome to the March 2007 column of A Father’s Voice. This month’s column, Making My Time Away A Little Easier…For All of Us, was one of the first pieces I wrote and will always hold a fond place in my heart. It was the beginning of my writing and the beginning of my understanding what it meant to be a Daddy. It’s not surprising that they happened at the same time.

This month Littlies, New Zealand’s fastest growing and most popular parenting magazine, published a new article of mine called, First-Time Dads. Next month I will be conducting a workshop on the Power of Involved Fathers to help both fathers and mothers understand the benefits of involved fathers and how they can make that happen (if you would like to attend, email me). In the Spring, the new Nickelodeon-owned web site for parents, called ParentsConnect will be launched with a special section for Frequently Asked Question from real parents answered by experts…experts like me. Speaking of questions, if you have any questions about relationships, Clever Parents has featured me in their new Questions and Answers area so send me an email at jeremy@cleverparents.com.

A Father’s Voice is my column to voice the challenges and rewards of trying to be a very involved father to my twins despite my childhood and working full-time outside of my home. I write during the only disposable time of my day; I write during my train ride to and from home.

Making My Time Away A Little Easier…For All of Us

By Jeremy G. Schneider, MFT

You know how some parents look forward to going back to work to get a break from their children and spouses? I’m not one of them. I hate going to work in the morning. Absolutely hate it. I hate leaving my family - especially on Monday after I have spent so much time with them during the weekend. To make matters worse, my twin 19-month old children hate it, too. Sometimes they will cry and scream when I lean down to say goodbye. Other times they cling to me when I give them a hug and refuse to let go - as if I really want to leave in the first place.

My children have developed different ways of dealing with my leaving in the morning. Jordyn, my little girl, has somehow learned on her own to keep her connection to me throughout the day. She will point to pictures of me and yell out, “Da-Dee!” Or, and this just broke my heart, she will pick up my sneakers, take them to my wife and say, “Da-Dee shoes.” When she started to do this, my leaving in the morning wasn’t as hard on either of us.

But for my little boy, my leaving was much harder on him.

You can hear A Father’s Voice in my voice below, subscribe to A Father’s Voice podcasts, check out A Father’s Voice archives, read the rest of this month’s column, and even subscribe to Two Okapis, my Digital Daddy Diary. You can always share your voice with me by commenting on this site or emailing me.

Making My Time Away A Little Easier: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download