AdventureDad

We just got back from our latest vacation to the North Pole.  Summary is an easy trip, fairly crappy weather, great food, and one extremely happy toddler.  More details will follow tomorrow.  Me and Sandra have been on lots of vacations during the past 15 years.  Most of them together but also many with our family or friends.  We think this is a crucial part of the relationship and it has definitely helped us stay together all these years.  We both feel that a little break every now and then is refreshing and necessary.  This is even more important now when we have Daniel.  He’s so far the easiest, nicest, kindest kid you could imagine but it’s still hard work to take care of a 17 month old toddler full of energy.  I see examples of strained relationships every day and it seems like such a waste.  Mothers that have not been away ONE single night in five years or more from their kid or never go out with friends for a few drinks.  Fathers that never are allowed to go out with friends more than a couple o nights a year or must always be right next to their spouse.   Couples that never have any time for themselves without the kid.  No nice dinners, parties, vacations, or bike ride in the woods together without the kid.  In the end this will lead to unhappy couples and most often end up in a disaster.  Take my advice and spend some quality time alone every now and then and you will be much happier.

Sandra recently took a couple of pleasure trips while I stayed home with Daniel.  Living in Sweden has many benefits, two of them are lots of vacation and LOTS of paid parental leave.  In May Sandra flew down to the women’s Italian Open in Rome to spend time with a friend of ours that play on the WTA tour.  She’s one of the top players in the world and therefore Sandra always gets nice treatment at these tournaments.  It was a week full of red wine, nice food and late evenings for the crazy Mexican.   And some time away from me and Daniel.  It’s a an easy three hour flight from Stockholm but when Sandra got home she was more tired than ever.  Not a good sign since we were leaving the next day for a two week vacation to NYC and Hampton’s.  Complete report on that great trip will follow.

Poor AdventureDad was at home changing diapers, visiting The Little Gym, mingling with parents at Baby Song, and trying to keep track of my parents who came down for a visit.  To be serious, spending time with Daniel is hard work but something I do with pleasure.  I have taken many months off from work in this past year to spend time with Daniel and Sandra.  It’s always the same, great fun but definitely harder than actually being at work.  And that’s still considering I have one of the most challenging, competitive and demanding jobs you can find. 

Since I’m taking a six week summer vacation Sandra decided to go to Paris for a few days in July to hang out with a friend, Jimena, who live in Barcelona.  The flew in and met in Paris for a few days of wine, cheese, shopping, and relaxing.  This was a great trip and Sandra came back refreshed and missing Daniel.  Not really sure she missed me since Jimena and Sandra apparently saw lots of "lions".  Translation, there was lots of hot looking men for the two mothers to drool over.  Paris is excellent for a quick getaway.  It’s just a two hour flight from Stockholm and Paris has plenty of nice hotels to choose from.  Like most big cities it’s very easy to get around town and plenty of things to see,  Too bad the French are such assholes.  They are blessed with a country that has most you can ask for.  Beaches, mountains for skiing and biking, great food, excellent museums, architecture, wine, etc.  The list just goes on and on.  Still, I have not met one single person during my travels through the world who like the French.  Go to Sandra’s site for full report of the trips.

While Sandra headed to Paris I flew up to my parents place in the north for ten days at our summerhouse.  When Sandra got back from Paris shes pent a night at our place and then flew up north to join me and Daniel for a few days of fun before heading back to Stockholm. 

We are now back in Stockholm for a few days of relaxing but go on another trip this week.  Our next destination is Göteborg which is a four hour drive from Stockholm.   This trip is only a long weekend, Thursday to Sunday, but should be nice since we don’t know the Göteborg area.

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