Monday, March 19, 2012

Single Parenting

Makes you shutter a little doesn't it? Yeah, me too. Unfortunately it is a very real part of my life. I have no reason to complain though, because I have a husband with an amazing job. Trainings and deployments just come with the territory. Every job has its pros and cons, these just happen to be our cons.

Charlie is away for 12 days. Training. He drove alone, 12 hours straight and made it safely. And so begins my stent of single parenting.

Right now I have two kids in two very trying phases. There are lots of tears, lots of the word 'no', lots of battles. With two parents it is hard... alone it seems nearly impossible. I have rules for myself when I am going at it alone.

1. Nap time is for Mommy. No work is to be done during nap, unless it is folding a load of clothes. I make myself relax and take time for me.

2. Don't make plans. I take every day one step at a time. One battle, one fit, one moment at a time.

3. Pray. Pray. Pray.

4. Ask for help. This one has taken me a looooooong time to realize.

5. Don't miss the gym. It is great time to focus on my health and talk to God. The kids get about an hour and a half to play with a few other kids and enjoy their 2 wonderful teachers in the nursery.

I can make it without Charlie, but the kids have a rough time. They don't understand why Daddy is gone all day and not coming home for dinner. They make me miss him, for them. I miss him, but we are use to this time apart and we thrive on it. Sounds crazy, I know, but it's true. The next 12 days will be long, but I am sure I will learn a lot. I will be cleaning (cause that's what I do when he leaves) I will be organizing, I will be keeping myself and my kids busy so that the next 12 days goes quick.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

praying it's over before you know it! and yes, the help thing ;)

Rachel said...

Halfway through it!

I love your battle plan... those are the steps we can all use to get through each day!