It’s happening.
On Saturday, the L&T flies to Ethiopia for eight days to pick up our not-quite two year-old daughter (M2), and despite my *love* of international air travel, I’m staying home.
I’ll be playing single parent all next week; practicing my patience and reading helpful articles about the cost of raising a child (the answer is an unhelpful $235K to the age of 18).
When I was born, gasoline was .31 cents a gallon, a box of Cheerios was a quarter, mankind had yet to make it into space and Gilligan was still three years away from his shipwreck.
Things have changed a little since then. And they’re about to change a little more.
If I learned anything from Little M’s adoption it’s that I had no idea what was coming. I was clueless.
This time I’ve decided to embrace “clueless” (some say it’s my natural state).
The L&T and I have worked our butts off the last couple years, and now we’re going to take a couple months to focus on the new kid (and the current one).
I’ve cut all but a couple clients loose. And while I may squeeze in another hourlong fishing trip during the week, I wouldn’t expect a waterfall of posts here.
But more to come on all this. Maybe a couple proud parent photos.
See you wondering what’s hurtling towards me, Tom Chandler.
“Maybe a couple proud parent photos.”
Well, at least one….
Corvus(Quote)
OK, a couple.
Tom Chandler(Quote)
Congratulations, Tom. It might only be one more beautiful child, but the joys increase geometrically.
Bruce Ross(Quote)
I understand the amount of work does too, but perhaps everyone’s just yanking my chain.
Tom Chandler(Quote)
That’s a total myth.
But only because the reality of hands and time being finite forces a parent to triage problems. My technique: OK, who’s crying louder right now?
Bruce Ross(Quote)
Before our second came along so many parents told us that “the second one is waaaaay easier than the first”. Horseshit. It doesn’t get easier until you have enough that they start raising each other. I will say, however, that because you’ve learned with the first one exactly what constitutes life-threatening and what does not, there are fewer WTF!!!!! moments.
Take all of this with the knowledge that the easiest things in life are rarely the most enjoyable. Very, very happy for all of you and can’t wait to see the newest addition.
Mark Coleman(Quote)
I’ll be thinking about you all, especially M2. What an event for her. Looking forward to family photos.
Jim Yaussy Albright(Quote)
Don’t you dare go all SingleBarbed on us,TC…Let M1 and M2 know about all the crazy friends Daddy has out in the etherworld and how a family and roly-poly dog in Northern California, along with fly-fishing in small secret places,keeps them sane (or laughing)…..
Twenty years from now,when the kids have the M Guide Service and take 20″ steelies out of the Trinity,they will remember dad’s stories and posts on that old blog of his…..
JP2(Quote)
I think you have your priorities right. I was 29 when we had our first of three kids. I’d fished for 22 years, and it took a far second place after the first. It takes over your life in a way that fishing can’t match, and is the best thing that ever happened. Good luck, and the best to your new child.
Mike
Mike(Quote)
That’s great news.
Since I’ll be up in Dunsmuir Tuesday evening thru Sunday, having one less FF machine on the river is wonderful news for me and the trout.
Seriously, congratulations Tom.
Don(Quote)
Raine called today to let me know he crushed them yesterday.
So call me and I’ll put you on his favorite water…
Tom Chandler(Quote)
When you can still do man-to-man defense, you’re okay. When you go to zone, the whole game changes. Best of luck surviving the (additional) insanity.
Steve Z(Quote)
I can see I need to view parenting through a different set of lenses.
Tom Chandler(Quote)
I have never used the phrase, “crushed them” to describe my superior fishing skills. That’s your neighbor up in Mt. Shasta. I have also never used the term, “slab” to describe a trout.
Fly fishing is a perishable skill.
Raising children is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
You can always pick up the long rod later on in life.
You can’t bounce a 20 year-old on your knee……other than that time you were talking about a lap dance you paid for….
Chris Raine(Quote)
Enjoy the company on your favorite stretches of water…
Tom Chandler(Quote)
I still remember choking up at work when you wrote about finding M’s sister, probably because I had just had my first daughter. It’s an incredible thing you are doing for those two girls, good luck and enjoy.
Pat(Quote)
All of these posts are more than I can say. Don’t worry about the money; it will somehow materialize. Enjoy your family. You will get to fish again, and it will be so much sweeter. But I will miss the stream of blog posts.
Kentucky Jim(Quote)
Congrats Tom!!!!!
marty(Quote)