Well, I believe it was important to explain this—to give you the context—because I am fairly certain that millions of people are facing similar separations. With this European Tour in 2026, I also want to raise awareness for those parents who will inevitably find themselves in comparable situations.
Yes, it is painful, at least for a little while, but you need to get up, and you need to get going. If you are in a position like mine, where you can afford to be away for four months—or even four years—to do what you please, then consider yourself lucky. But if you are not in this position, that does not automatically make you unlucky. If you can still pursue a dream, pick up a hobby, or channel your focus and energy into something you have always wanted to do, then you are already on the right path. For me, it is music, the arts, the writing, the photography. I have always wanted to be a rockstar, and maybe only for four months—but for four months, I will be.
You need to be yourself. You need to confront the pain. You need to dust yourself off, hit the road, and make a commitment to yourself. Life is like game of chess: there is always a move. And if it seems like there is no move left, because you are in checkmate, there is still a move—you can physically lift the king off the board and lay it down beside it. You have lost, yes, but you have still made a move. And with that move, there is a chance to play another game, to take revenge, to reclaim the board.
It is equally important to realize that doing too much can be just as dangerous as doing too little or nothing at all. I clearly did more than any other dad physically could have, and yet I was taken for granted, disrespected, and ultimately pushed out. Other plans had been made, parties worldwide celebrated, endless travelling and good times were rolling, while I was running the show, pleasing three souls for weeks four months for years.
Learn from this mistake: do only as much as you need to. Always keep the balance. Do not overcommit. Do not dedicate your entire life to a so-called “project.” Go out there. Live. Enjoy. And if there is a Swedish table, and you are invited, eat from it—even if you are not hungry—because, clearly, the old saying, “Get the taste somewhere else, but always eat at home,” is no longer relevant. Certainly, it does not apply to an “emancipated” woman.