Parents.. with different treatment

Daddy? Attention pls?...

It had been a long, tiring day for Colby. Work had been hectic, and all he could think about was getting home and spending time with his family. He missed Valerie and the boys, especially after being away for so many hours. As he finally pulled into the driveway and walked up to the door, he felt a flicker of relief—it was the moment he'd been waiting for.

Inside the house, Xander had been waiting for his dad all day. From the moment he woke up, he kept asking Valerie, "When's Daddy coming home?" Valerie tried to keep him busy, but nothing seemed to work. Xander wasn't interested in playing with his toys, watching TV, or even eating. He just wanted his dad. His ADHD made it hard for him to distract himself when he got fixated on something, and today, all he wanted was Colby's attention.

Meanwhile, Xavier, being the energetic two-year-old he was, had kept himself busy, but even he noticed the growing anticipation in the air as the day wore on.

When Colby finally opened the front door, it was Xavier who ran to him first. With a squeal of excitement, Xavier launched himself into Colby's arms, giggling as Colby scooped him up.

"Hey, buddy!" Colby said, smiling as he hugged Xavier tightly. He was exhausted, but the joy on Xavier's face instantly lifted his spirits.

Xander, who had been sitting by the window waiting for Colby, saw his dad walk through the door and instantly jumped to his feet. His little heart swelled with excitement. He had been waiting for this moment all day—just to see his dad, to get a hug, to feel like he was important.

He ran toward Colby, his small arms outstretched for the hug he had been longing for all day.

But as Xander reached Colby, his dad, still holding Xavier, didn't seem to notice him. Caught up in the excitement of greeting Xavier, Colby turned slightly to the side, and without meaning to, he ended up pushing Xander aside with his arm to make room for Xavier's squirming body.

The shove wasn't rough, but it was enough to send Xander stumbling back a step. His little face fell, confusion clouding his features. All day, he had been waiting for this moment, imagining the joy of being reunited with his dad, but instead of the hug he craved, he felt pushed away.

Xander stood there, frozen in place, his arms still outstretched, unsure of what to do. His chest tightened, and tears welled up in his eyes. He just wanted his dad to notice him, to give him the same love and attention that Xavier seemed to get so easily.

Colby, still focused on Xavier, didn't immediately see Xander's hurt expression. He was busy listening to Xavier's excited babbling about his day.

But Valerie, who had been watching from the kitchen, saw everything. Her heart sank as she noticed the hurt look on Xander's face. She could see how much it had taken for him to wait patiently all day for Colby, only to feel ignored in this crucial moment.

"Colby," Valerie called softly, walking over to the boys. "I think Xander's been waiting for you all day. He really needs some of your attention right now."

Hearing this, Colby glanced down and finally noticed Xander standing there, tears brimming in his eyes, his little arms still half-raised for a hug. The guilt hit Colby instantly. In his exhaustion and the rush of greeting Xavier, he hadn't even realized what had happened.

"Xander..." Colby's voice softened immediately, and he gently set Xavier down. He knelt down to Xander's level and opened his arms wide.

"Come here, buddy," Colby said, his voice full of warmth and regret.

Xander, still hurt but desperate for the connection he had been craving, took a hesitant step forward before collapsing into his dad's arms. The moment he felt Colby's embrace, the dam of his emotions broke. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he clung tightly to his dad, finally feeling the closeness he had been waiting for.

"I'm so sorry, Xander," Colby whispered, holding him close. "I didn't mean to push you away. I've missed you so much."

Xander didn't say anything; he just buried his face in Colby's shoulder, letting the warmth of his dad's hug soothe the hurt he had been feeling all day. His little hands clutched Colby's shirt, not wanting to let go.

Valerie, standing nearby, gave Colby a knowing look. She understood how easily these moments could slip by unnoticed, especially when juggling the needs of two young children. But she also knew how much Xander needed this reassurance, how fragile his emotions were, especially with his ADHD making it harder for him to manage these big feelings.

Colby gently pulled back, looking into Xander's tear-streaked face. "You know I love you, right? You're my big boy, and I've missed you so much today."

Xander nodded, sniffling, but his grip on Colby didn't loosen.

"Do you want to hang out with me for a bit?" Colby asked, smiling gently. "Maybe we can do something just the two of us?"

Xander's face lit up slightly at the suggestion. "Okay," he whispered, his voice still a little shaky, but the hurt was beginning to fade.

Colby stood up, still holding Xander close. He glanced over at Xavier, who was now playing with a toy on the floor, perfectly content. Then he turned back to Valerie, silently thanking her for stepping in before things escalated.

Valerie smiled, watching as Colby carried Xander to the couch, where they could have some much-needed father-son time. Xavier, happy to explore the toys nearby, didn't seem to mind, and the house settled into a quiet, peaceful rhythm.

As Colby sat with Xander, talking to him about his day and giving him the attention he had so desperately needed, he reminded himself that no matter how tired he was, both of his boys needed his love and presence in different ways. It wasn't always easy, but moments like this reminded him how important it was to be mindful of each of their emotional needs.

And in that quiet moment, as Xander rested his head on his dad's shoulder, he finally felt seen, loved, and reassured that no matter what, he was just as important as his little brother.