#132 - Home is Where the Heart Is
Hello everyone! One of the most demanding weeks in a while — an Air Canada strike, a monumental AI project, and Kat criss-crossing the country while Dada held down the homefront. Two perspectives on the same week: hers on the road, his at home with two Frenchies and a toddler.
Home is Where the Heart Is
Hello everyone!
This past week has been one of the most demanding ones in a while. At work, we kicked off a major campaign for a truly monumental AI project—a project that requires every ounce of energy from my organization, my department, and my team. Unfortunately, the timing couldn’t have been worse, colliding head-on with the Air Canada strike.
The whole week was lived in uncertainty. I never quite knew whether I’d be boarding a flight or driving across provinces. It all started in Halifax: I arrived exhausted late at night, only to hear at the hotel reception, “Hi Katerina, welcome, but you will not be staying with us tonight!” Thankfully, I was redirected to one of their sister hotels, which turned out to be an upgrade. Still, my first night ended at 2 a.m. with a lost Uber Eats order and no dinner—sometimes all you can do is call it a day and surrender to sleep.
The rest of my stay in Halifax brought small gifts: time by the marina, the sunshine, and the slow rhythm of the Maritimes, which truly does feel like it runs on its own timezone. But there was little time to linger. Within 24 hours, I was on a flight to Ottawa (luckily, one that actually took off). Then, 48 hours later, I found myself running not to a gate, but to a car rental, where three colleagues and I drove to Kingston to do it all over again. In the end, we managed to fly home from Ottawa without major delays, but the week left me with one undeniable truth: being away from family is the hardest part of business travel.
As the days stretched on, the weight of being away from family pressed harder. It is never easy knowing that one parent is carrying the full load at home, and my heart ached to be there with Damian, Alyce, and of course, Boujee and Dapper.
Alyce, meanwhile, finished her swimming lessons with TayTay and even received a diploma! I was so grateful for the loving updates, photos, and even the Happy Meal surprise TayTay treated her with after the final class.
Coming home felt like a race—the kind where you want to push the plane faster just to get there. And when I finally did, the reward was worth every stressful mile: Alyce’s wide-eyed disbelief, her little voice shouting “mama! mommy! mom!” over and over, and the kind of hugs that erase every ounce of exhaustion.
This week reminded me that no matter how heavy the workload, how chaotic the airports, or how uncertain the path—family is the constant that grounds us, heals us, and makes the rush of coming home the best part of any journey.
I missed them all so dearly—my little girl, Boujee & Dapper, and most of all, Damian. There is no sweeter reminder of what really matters than the embrace waiting for you at home.
It feels so good to be back. ❤️
Kat
One Dad, Two Dogs, and Alice
My partner, Katerina, was away this week on a business trip, which meant it was my turn to be a "single parent" for a few days. The mission: navigate the daily routine with my daughter, Alyce.
I’ve been preparing for this for a while, mostly by building a morning routine with Alyce and our two French bulldogs. Picture it: me (a six-foot-tall black guy), two French bulldogs, and Alyce. Every morning, we'd wake up, get Alyce fed and changed, feed the dogs, and then head out for a walk. We'd look for birds and talk about the colors of cars. It’s been a solid routine, and I’m proud to say it held up beautifully this week.
It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. Solo parenting is no picnic, but it does force you to slow down and just be in the moment with your kid. On Sunday, Alyce and I had the whole day to ourselves. We went to the Royal Botanical Gardens, played on the playground, looked at plants, and then grabbed a hot dog and fries.
Normally, my weekends feel rushed. I try to squeeze in too many things, and I end up not having much fun. But with Alyce, time just stands still. That afternoon with her was a perfect reminder that sometimes, the best moments are the simplest ones. And don't worry, I didn't give her any hot dog—I know that's a choking hazard—but she did enjoy the fries.
** A Little Help from Our Village
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One of the routines that has been a huge help is our nanny. She’s been taking Alyce to her swimming lessons. I'm not the strongest swimmer myself and I want Alyce to have that skill, so it's a priority for us. She's also incredibly dependable—on Wednesday, when she wasn't feeling well, she still came over because she knew I needed her. That's a level of commitment you can't get from just anyone. Our nanny has been a crucial part of creating a good routine for Alyce, and this week was no exception.
** Keeping Connected
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Even with Katerina away, we found a way to stay connected as a family. We made it a point to create a routine out of our video calls. First thing in the morning, Alyce would get on the iPad to call her mom. It was so good to see them interact, and I loved hearing Alyce wake up and call out "Mommy." We did the same thing at bedtime, ending the day with another dose of our "normal."
One of the morning routines that was added this week was a dance party. After feeding the dogs and getting breakfast ready, Alyce and I would put on some music and dance around the kitchen. It was a fun way to get our energy up before heading out for our walk.
** A Moment of Reflection
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This week gave me a whole new level of respect for single parents. Juggling everything—the meals, the routines, the constant attention a little one needs—it's no joke. I had a support system, and it was still challenging. I can't imagine doing this day in and day out without a break.
** A Triumphant Return
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Katerina was away from Sunday to Thursday, and while it was a week of quality time with dad, the best part was seeing her come home. I was on a work call and Alyce had just fallen completely asleep when I heard Katerina come in. She greeted the dogs, Bougie and Dapper, who gave her the kind of unconditional love only a dog can offer when you've been gone for days.
It took Alyce a moment to realize her mom was home, but as Katerina approached the door, Alyce’s head swung around with a look I'd never seen before—a look of pure surprise and utter joy. The first thing she said was, "Mommy," and the rest is history. As much as I can play mom, there's absolutely no replacing the real thing.
It was an amazing week filled with ups and adventures. Most of all, I got to watch my daughter grow, become more independent, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Grateful to have Katerina back with the pack.
Damian