Thursday was the last day of Powergirl’s summer; on Friday, she goes back to work as professor at a junior college in our neck of the woods.

I’ve got mixed feelings about the development.

On one hand, we’ve had a great summer together with L, and I’m bummed to give that up. On the other hand, two full-time incomes are better than one, and (to be honest), I sort of miss being the primary caregiver for the bulk of the day.

Of course the entire stay-at-home dad experience will be much different now that L is walking and talking up a storm. In May, the last time I was exclusively responsible for L between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m., she was a relatively low-maintenance charge. Now, however, chasing her around and listening to her gab away is exhausting (but, of course, fulfilling) work.

This likely will require me to cut down on those 3 a.m. bedtimes, and figure out some new ways to balance life and work.

It also will require a bit more planning; instead of hanging near the house all day, the two of us (that would be the baby and I) may have to incorporate regular visits to library reading hours and local play groups.

Whatever we do, however we handle it, this next week or so will be an interesting transition.