This morning FOTY (Father of the year) arrived late (surprise surprise), lucky really as we'd slept in, and it gave me time to get the kids ready.  Miss 8 woke up and the first thing she said was
"Is it Saturday?"

When I answered

"Yes."  She replied -

"I hate Saturdays, do I have to go with my Dad!? I don't want to!!"

So that was how my morning started, I had to talk them into going.
FOTY arrived and things were looking good, I gave Master 4 a shoulder ride out to the car to make it fun for him (and yes it hurt, he is toooo heavy for me!!!)  We get him buckled in and as I'm saying good bye, he realises what's happening.
He pulls off his seat belt and his lip starts to curl, his eyes show betrayal and he tells me in a sad voice
"I don't want to go!"
"Of course you do sweetie," I tell him doing my best to not show the heartache in my face.
"You'll have so much fun, and I'll be here when you get back."

He isn't interested in my words, he jumps out of the car and clings to me.
Miss 8 starts getting upset, I reassure her it will be okay.
Master 4 definitely doesn't want to go.

I spend the next 10 minutes talking to him, cuddling him, and start telling him reasons why he should go.
FOTY - sits in the car - useless.
So I tell him to come and help me, after all it is HIS SON I am talking to.

Unfortunately FOTY has no idea what to say to his son, and he makes it worse.  Master 4 runs back into the house and barricades himself in his room.
Slowly I ease my way in and chat to him, I finally finally convince him to go for a few reasons
1) to look after his sister
2) to see his Daddy
3) to take photos for me - as I'm too busy to go with him today.

I don't know if any of the above reasons sway him, but he reluctantly agrees, grabbing the digital camera.
I tell him to take a photo of me so he can look at it if he needs to.  So he does.. and it's a bad photo!!!! LOL
But anyway he goes back, gets in the car and Miss 8 (thank goodness) engages in a conversation with him about the camera.

I take my cue and "walk away from the vehicle!"
FOTY smiles at me relieves and mouths "thank you"

I give him an exasperated look, smile weakly and go inside.
I know I did the right thing, but it breaks my heart..... I have a bit of a cry, then I go talk to one of my wonderful friends.

Hope my children have fun, and he uses the day to make them comfortable with him.... I really do.