Mike and I are unique among our friends for a few reasons (and not just cause we build stuff out of papercrete and use baking soda for just about everything).  Most of our friends don’t have a ‘blended’ family.  Most don’t have step-kids.  At our house every other weekend our kids go off to the other parent’s or grandparent’s house.  We have Dumpling 1/2 time and Pistol is with us all the time except for certain holidays.  In the summer Pistol goes off to her Dad’s house in CA for at least 6 weeks and Dumpling is away for 3 weeks between overnight camp and vacationing with her Mom and Step-Dad.  I’m pretty used to being away from the kids for more than a week although it can make still make me weepy 🙁  . » » »