Children or Cycling

This morning over breakfast I asked my wife about what was going on this Sunday. I knew she had something to do, and I wanted to see when she would be leaving how long she would be gone, and whether or not the kids were going with her.

"Are you going biking this Sunday?" she asks me; "I don't know," I answer, "if they're going with you, then I will but if they're staying here with me, then I can't."

That's one of the adorable things about my wife. Even though it's been almost seven years since we became parents, she still doesn't quite understand one simple thing.

Yes, I do want to ride my bike as much as I can. Yes, I do wonder about when I can next get on my bike. Yes, I do spend a lot of my down time — such as when I'm going somewhere on the scooter or driving the car and can't really do anything else other than think about something — contemplating whether or not I can get out on the weekend or on this or that day and if I can, how much time do I have and where I can go. But I am also thinking that I can only go out if it's okay with her and I don't have to look after children.

The way I look at it is this way. If she is okay with looking after them by herself or if she is taking them somewhere, then I can go for a bike ride. I do not think Well, I want to go for a bike ride, so she will have to take care of the kids. Looking after and being with my children comes first.

Last Saturday I came home from work shortly after five in the evening. My wife wasn't feeling well; when I got home there was a message on my phone from her asking if I could take the kids out for supper. She was already asleep in bed and she stayed that way all night. There was a nice group ride the next morning that I had been planning on doing and been anticipating for a long time. So Sunday morning I woke up early hoping to go on that ride. I had my cycling kit all ready to go. When I got up my wife was already awake. I guess she slept enough the day before. Knowing she hadn't been feeling well the day before, I asked her if I could go or if I should stay home. She told me I should stay home. So I did, even though I really wanted to go on that ride.

And still my wife doesn't understand that no matter how much I want to ride my bike, my family always comes first.