My dear wife Aileen is heading out of town next weekend to be a Bridesmaid in the wedding of her college roomate, Mary. This would normally have absolutely no effect on me. This time however I am mortified.

Why? Because for the first time since her birth, I will be alone with our daughter Kelsey – for 4 days. I don’t know why the prospect frightens me so much what with her being such a good kid, but for some reason I sense impending end of the world like doom.

I have visions of crayoned walls, a trashed house, lack of food, no sleep, me crying more than her… None of this will actually happen mind you, but the fear is there and it’s real. Even though I do a pretty good job being a stay at home dad, I still feel so unable to cope sometimes.

The roughest part that I don’t even want to think about is that Kelsey is still breast feeding. She still feeds to fall asleep at night. I’m hoping that regular and/or soy milk (she drinks both) will be a palatable substitute for her, even though it’s not on tap.

I have to start getting prepared on Tuesday. Stock the fridge, clean all the dishes, clean all the clothes, get activities planned, have outfits ready, make sure all the diaper supplies are stocked. My biggest coping mechanism is to be overly prepared. That way when I see that Kelsey is about to need something, or I’m starting to drag on energy I know that whatever ether of us needs is already ready to go.

So now I’m left to wonder what’s worse, weaning Kelsey from breast milk cold turkey, or weaning me from the night time help Aileen affords me cold turkey. I think it’s the latter. Wish me luck…