The boys have started asking DH for permission to do this or that. Whereas, before, it was me. I can already see him stressing the additional responsibility. And the boys have started looking for ways to manipulate him - which is a GOOD thing kind of because they are doing things like offering to take out the trash, dishes ... all the little things that DH wishes they would do to help.

I had a nightmare last night that I came home from deployment and SS11, now 13 in my dream, was sitting on the couch and looked at me stone faced and said "you don't belong here."

It was awful.