Monday’s are special to me. It has been my only day off from work since I left the day-job era of my life and became a full-time professional musician. Monday’s are the only time I have my kids overnight. My parenting time is from 7:15AM-6PM during the weekdays and I also have them during the day on the last Sunday of the month. It was an agreement I made with my ex-wife based on our schedules at the time that worked out for the both of us. It made sense then and it makes sense now. It was a shared parenting arrangement that worked out best for our children. They get to spend equal time with both of their parents.

Spending my day off with my kids is special. It’s even more so when there are Monday holidays. They have no school and I get even more time with them. I’ve looked forward to those days since they began school because it meant time we went to the playground, ride our bikes, cook meals together, go sledding, have a game day or watch movies.

My kids today are much less reliant on me. It’s physically easier to not have to hold their hands everywhere, carry them, or push them in a stroller. They can get around anywhere on their own. What they still need from me is emotional and mental support. As long as I’m alive, I’ll be there to give it to them.

Watching them sleep when they stay with me overnight, waking them up in the morning to get them ready for school, cooking them breakfast, making their lunch and now, sending them out of the door on the train are some of the best parts of parenthood for me right now. It’s a simple routine, but it’s one we all share.

I kiss them on the cheek each time they walk out of my apartment door to go to school on Tuesday mornings. I also tell them I love them. They are a tween and a teen but those little things matter to me. I can tell it matters to them too.

I love being a parent.

I love fatherhood.

I love my kids.