A couple of months ago, Larch went back to work. After being a framer/sider for the last ten or so years, he is now an apprentice electrician. I changed jobs too. Instead of just being a stay-at-home-mom, I am now a part time single mother. Larch's job takes him half a state away, so for three to four nights a week, it's just me and the kids.
I've learned a few things in the last two and a half months.
1--I do not envy my single parent friends. They do everything I do, plus hold down a job to pay for all the same bills, plus child care. AND they are either perpetually lonely, or they have to fit time into their already busy lives to date. Nope,I do not envy them, I have a whole new respect for them.
2--Sleeping alone sucks. Even though most of the time the kids sleep in bed with me, it's different. Instead of my ice cold feet searching for a warm spot on Larch's side of the bed, I am experiencing Lily's ice cold feet in the small of my back.
3--I cannot eat what my kids eat three times a day. I need more variety than mac and cheese, corn dogs, chicken nuggets, and peanut butter sandwiches. Did you know that one cup of prepared kraft mac and cheese is around 400 calories! Add a hot dog and you've just used half your daily intake for lunch. EW!
4--Phone calls are not the same as good night kisses.
5--I do not miss grocery shopping with my kids. It takes twice as long to do a weeks worth of household shopping with two children in tow.
Now that I know I don't like being a single stay at home mom, the idea has gotten into Larch's head that I should go back to work part time. HA! I am willing to go, but I can't keep up on the housework being at home full time, I don't know how he expects me to keep a clean house, cook meals, and provide clean clothes if I go back to work. I supposed I could try, but I wouldn't put money on my ability to do both.
P.S. I hope to have something interesting to share next week. We are going on our first camping trip of the season this weekend. Please pray it doesn't rain.
I will save my rain dance until Monday. :) I was a single Mom for many years... it sucks. Yes, there are some perks, but as a whole, it sucks.
ReplyDeleteBalance is the key... now if I just could remember where I put that key I'd be all set. :)
Balance would be easier to find if it was a full time thing. Just as we get used to life without dad, he's home again. He left on Tuesday this week and will be home in three hours. We just got back into our no dad routine.
DeleteI had that problem when I went from single Mom to Tony spending 2 nights a week here (about a year before we got married)I will say eventually the pattern evens out.
DeleteThen he moved in completely the week before we got married, and it all changed again. Sometimes I really miss the days when it was just the 3 of us.
Wow, you have given me much to be thankful for today. I hope things get easier for you and that you and H find special moments to connect and make p for the days apart!
ReplyDeleteThank you. We seem to be finding them. It's hard when he comes home more excited to see the kids than he is me. Not that I blame them.
DeleteWow! I'm just amazed at how people with more than one kid survive, let alone as a single mom! I have 1 child & she keeps me hopping!
ReplyDeletehave fun camping!
Two is so much fun. Sometimes. Sometimes they keep each other entertained. Other times, it takes everything I can to keep them from fighting.
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