It’s Father’s Day.

After 6 days of continuous, hard, long work, I let him sleep in.

The dogs are up, my daughter is running around, so I get up too.

I scavenge the fridge for breakfast foods, because I think how nice it’ll be to cook for him - everything just the way he likes it.

I have his gift on the table, next to his black, strong coffee (in the mug our daughter made him).

And then they call.

No time to eat or drink coffee or even open his gift.

And he’s gone.

So here we sit, just my daughter, our begging dogs, and I.

I stare at the food for awhile, because it feels wrong to eat his Father’s Day breakfast without him.

Eventually I eat, and then I sit down and I write this.

He works overtime often, and when he’s not at the fire station, he’s at the hospital, again.. helping people.

Sometimes my daughter goes a week without seeing him, between overtimes, night shifts, and early mornings.

I don’t mean to sound like I’m complaining - I am not. We could never be grateful enough for such a hard working man, who literally risks his lives for others.

He is a selfless man.

In the meantime, we miss him. My daughter cries and begs to FaceTime daddy. He tries his best, but a lot of the time he can’t answer.

She doesn’t get to kiss him goodnight every night, and she doesn’t get to kiss him good morning every morning.

Neither do I.

But this is my reality.

We have a cycle, and we make it work.

First responders don’t just DO their job, they LIVE for their jobs. It’s apart of who they are.

I will never take that away from my husband. It’s apart of him, and apart of the reason I love him with my whole heart.

Our girl will understand. She will grow up, and know that her daddy had to go because It’s his duty, and he misses her every second of the way.

Hold him close when he’s home, and kiss him big goodbye. Never forget what he does while he’s away.

-Amanda @ www.mimosamondaymom.com