For some reason, the only thing my 21-month-old daughter, Autumn, wanted to do was to watch hockey.

Why hockey? We're not a hockey family. The Kissmans are all about basketball, football and golf. To me, hockey was not part of that formula, but to my baby it made perfect sense.

More Than One Way to Calm a Baby

I'm grateful it did, because at 4:15 a.m., the rerun of game two of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs was the only thing that settled my daughter down from a screaming fit that shook the foundation of the house and nearly gave me a heart attack.  I had dealt with tantrums in children before, but this was one of the worst.  It took a better-than-average effort to get her back to sleep, especially since I was alone.  Although I am married, I could have used some single parent support right about then.

My wife, Amy, had gone away for three days on a business trip, leaving me in charge of Autumn. Things weren't exactly the same when she was gone, and Autumn, most of all, knew that.

Unwelcomed Advice

I should have seen it coming. When telling people that I was going to run the household, I received some pretty interesting comments.

"Are you sure you can handle it? Do you need any help?"

I can handle it just fine. Thanks for asking.

"Is Amy going to leave you some dinners? Do you need any help?"

Take a look at my belly--I know how to cook. We'll be just fine. Thanks for asking.

"Oh, you're Mr. Mom this week. Think you're up to changing diapers? Need any help?"

Uh, I've been changing diapers since she was born. We'll be OK. Thanks for asking.

A few days before Amy left, I felt confident. However, the day she left I started having my doubts. This was the first time Amy had been away from Autumn, leaving me solely in charge for a long time. I had no idea how to put in ponytails, much less clip in a barrette, and Autumn hadn't been sleeping well. "Can I really handle this?" I wondered. "Will I emotionally scar my little girl for life because of something I might forget to do?"

As it turns out, everything was just fine. Autumn's hair was a mess, her clothes didn't exactly match, and she ate ice cream (which was a true treat in her world), but she made it through just fine.

How Do Single Parents Do It?

I have a new respect for single parents. How they manage to do everything on a daily basis is beyond me. I also have a new appreciation for my wife. Being a parent isn't the easiest job, and when you're used to running the show with a partner, it makes it that much tougher when one is gone.

All is normal again now that Amy's back. I'm trying to coax my daughter to watch the NBA playoffs, but it isn't working. She wants hockey, and I'm not about to deny her that. Heck, I may even become a fan. It'll give me something to watch while I'm practicing my ponytail skills for Amy's next trip.
 


Tim Kissman is a dad and freelance writer in Lansing, Michigan.