Sunday with the Boys

Originally written in January 2013 as "Sunday 6th January 2013" — updated with reflections in 2026

Day 2 of having the boys is coming to an end — and what a busy day it’s been, probably even busier than yesterday. William woke us (James and me) at eight this morning. I wasn’t too unhappy, though, as I woke with James’s arms wrapped around my neck, cuddling me, as he often climbed into bed with me. One happy daddy.

[Image 2. James is sleeping next to me. 

This photo is from 2015 and is the earliest photo example I have saved of him climbing into bed with me.

He's sleeping in a black and red pillowcase in a darkened room]

We bathed, dressed, and ate breakfast. James spent a while in the tub playing with his ducks and bubbles, having a great time with water play. Then we all sat and watched cartoons and kids TV shows. Eleven o’clock came quickly, and James started dozing off next to me. With him asleep, William went shopping with Grandad.  

Although I could have enjoyed the rest, I decided to set up an afternoon of fun. James often plays with his cars, but we don’t have a proper environment for him to play in. So, with paint, flour, and water, I made a paste. I raided the recycling for old boxes and newspaper. When William arrived home, we dressed him in an old shirt, and our papier‑mâché box city was ready to begin. I took photos — a separate craft post will follow.

While we worked, William wanted The Wizard of Oz on, so we made and sang along. Once finished, William went off to play while James and I played shop. In this game, James loads up his trolley, says goodbye, shuts the door, then reopens it with a massive hello before unloading everything again. This goes on for quite a while!  

After an hour of play with James, my attention turned back to William, and we made cheesy bread rolls. Again, photos were taken — another post to come. We stopped for a bit and watched Watership Down together. As soon as it finished, William and I started dinner: lasagne. Boys fed, we’re now just chilling before they head back to their mum.

A fun but busy day — filled with laughter, crafts, cooking, and a few moments where my patience was tested. Luckily, a deep breath and all was well. Another lovely daddy day.

2026 Reflection 

Reading this again in 2026, I can see how much of my early single dad parenting was built on improvisation, while I was trying to prove I wasn't an absent father. I didn’t have a plan for days like this; I just followed the boys’ energy and tried to make something meaningful out of whatever we had in the house. This was the start of learning how to create structure out of chaos.

What stands out now is how different the boys already were. William wanted stories, songs, and projects that stretched his imagination. James wanted movement, repetition, and the joy of doing the same thing again and again. These early contrasts became the heart of so many later posts about our conversations, our little adventures, and the ways they grew into their own personalities.

This day also reminds me how much creativity carried us through those years. Papier‑mâché activities, cheesy bread, pretend shops, and old films were the building blocks of our family time. Those small, homemade moments became the foundation for the bigger memories that came later.

Looking back, it wasn’t a perfect day, but it was a real one — full of effort, patience, and love. The kind of day that taught me how to parent two boys on my own and how to make ordinary moments matter.

For more family related posts, click here.