The Disappearing Daddy Act

Anyone with a child of around age 2 or older knows that daddies hold an incredible talent of becoming invisible to their children at times of need.  Many of them do not even know they possess this talent until a scenario like the following occurs:

Mom sets the kids up with breakfast at the table with their Dad and then decides to slip upstairs for a quick shower.  About 2 minutes into the shower, a little head pops around the curtain, causing her heart to skip a beat, and says, “Hey Mommy, I need some more milk.”  Mom then proceeds to ask if Dad is still sitting at the table.  The child gives a look of surprise like, “My Daddy is down there?” After another second of reflection, the child decides that they must have seen their father down there.  The Mom then suggests going and asking Dad for the extra milk and finishes her shower in about 10 more seconds to avoid any more surprises.

This sort of thing has happened to me more times that I can count.  I will be interrupted on the telephone, sought out at another part of the house, tracked down while I am laying another child down for a nap, when Joe is RIGHT NEXT to them and could easily fulfill their needs.

At first I thought Joe was just avoiding doing anything for them, but I quickly realized it never even occurred to them to ask him.  They would just slip away to go find me because the majority of the time it is Mommy who fulfills those requests.

It makes me laugh when it happens and I have wondered how I can get a little of that disappearing magic for myself at times!