His favourite person

Soon Jenny's maternity leave was finished and she was ready to start classes again. The past month or so, she had already started working hard to catch up on the classes she wasn't able to attend and had taken her theoretical exams for the subjects she had missed. Using the digital materials from the recorded classes and notes provided by friends from the remaining ones to pass them with flying colours. Leaving only her practical exams to take, which she wasn't too worried about. With each passing result, her confidence in doing well after her return for the second semester grew. Making her even start looking forward to going back to campus and attending classes in person. Telling herself that at this pace, she would have caught up with the four months that she was behind on the other students of her year before she knew it.

But when it became time for her to take the first big step in doing so, the one she would be taking today, her enthusiasm and confidence was swept away. Sitting in little Charlie's playpen, she was wondering how she would be able to leave him behind for what felt like the first time. Jenny was playing with the happy, chubby, little boy who adored her and whom she loved to bits in return, while she was finding the courage to leave his side. Counting down the minutes on the clock before Jason would come to take her with him and she wouldn't be able to see his lovable smile till she would return, which wouldn't be before dinnertime.

Though she had been away from him two times before when both grandmothers had taken care of him and for a few hours on other occasions, today would mark the day that she would be leaving him behind structurally as she would start classes again. Unlike some other masters, she had mostly practical classes and could not take those classes whenever she felt like it or choose to skip them and use someone else's notes to make up for it. Plus, her schedule had been packed before she took her leave and had make up classes and exams to take. Now she would be happy if she was able to make it home in time for dinner everyday, which she already knew would not be the case. As she prepared to say her goodbyes to Charlie, he was happily babbling and cooing at her while she was playing with him with a dejected expression on her face. Clearly not aware yet that his favourite person was soon leaving and would do so for most days of the week from now on.

When Jason came downstairs after changing into his suit for a day at the office, he bent down over the railing of the playpen. He lovingly stroked his son's head, who paid him little attention as he was focused on Jason's other half. After that he turned towards Jenny, who seemed to have little attention to pay to him as well. Looking glum in the direction of their son, with a half smile on her face. "Why so glum chum?", he jokingly asked. "I don't think I can do this. Just look at him. How can I possibly leave him behind for the entire day, for days on end?" She said as she continued to play with their son.

Jason let out a soft sigh as he patted Jenny's head just as lovingly as he had done for their son. "The longer you are with him every minute of the day, the more unwilling you will become to leave him. Now he is young enough to adjust to your changed schedule and isn't too dependent on having you around. If he does become more dependent, it will become harder on both you and him to leave. Why don't you use these next few days as a trial run and if you still feel this way after a month, then we can still look into you staying at home for another term."

After this logic filled encouragement from Jason, Jenny looked at him long and hard before letting out a deep sigh. His answer had been too logical for her to be able to have anything to say in response. So, instead she kissed little Charlie one more time before stepping out of his enclosed playing ground and took Jason's hand. He had agreed to take her to her classes in the first few weeks in case she would have a moment of weakness like this and try to back out on her decision to go back after one semester at home. Jason knew that this weakness was what was causing her current wavering, a wavering many first time mothers experienced when starting school or work again after their maternity leave. Since he knew that that this wavering would most likely return more than once at the beginning of this next phase, he had prepared multiple arguments and one man speeches for Jenny to get her through the first few weeks. One of which he had given her just now.

When he saw that his words had had the desired effect and Jenny was back by his side instead of on the floor in his son's playpen, he gave her some positive reinforcement as well in the form of a comforting hug and the words, "You did well. You will be fine and so will Charlie. I promise." With those words, they waved Charlie goodbye and headed out the door to start their busy days.