My emotions on days like this run the gamut. I am headed to Dubai with my wife/business partner for some work and a couple days worth of fun. I am excited to travel internationally, see new places, meet new people and have interesting experiences in general. However, to have this experience means I must leave my children at home. They will be well taken care of, have fun, and probably not miss us a whit. But no one can take care of my kids as well as me, right?
I get uneasy being half a world away. I know it is only 20 hours, but it is half of a planet! I will miss the things that I have done every day for ten years. Repetition has not quelled the simple satisfaction of being an active parent. I will miss being there when they get home from school to get them a snack, hear about the day, and get them started on their music practice.
So, my excitement at traveling around our planet is tempered by the seperation from my kids. I hope I can come home with wonderous stories, pictures, and memories to delight their imagination and enrich them just a little, making the trip beneficial to all of us.
Lookout Dubai! One dad is on his way to collect precious memories.