This week I have been flying solo. My husband has been in the UK on business…
We’ve had an interesting week, the boys have (on the whole!) behaved. Friends have helped out (it would have to be the 7yo’s school concert this week, wouldn’t it?!) and we’ve made it through the week largely unscathed; unless you count the double ear infection that the wee girl woke up with yesterday… Could have done without that :(
I’m tired and we all miss daddy.
On the one hand, I quietly dread my husband going away on business; I’m sure it was just as hard for him when I used to travel quite a bit (except, I know it wasn’t as he seems to breeze through extended time alone with the kids, but then he does tend to ignore the domestic stuff!).
On the other hand though, I find that once he’s away, it’s fine. We miss him (he reads this, so I have to say that… and of course we do sweetheart *big kiss*!) and it is exhausting, but it’s okay.
The first and last days are the hardest. The rest, well; I have my routine, I stick to it and I don’t add in unnecessary trips/outings/activities/tasks! I just keep it simple and get the kids to bed as early as possible… even if bribery is required! And then I collapse :)
The house is generally tidier (just saying…) and I can watch TV with vampires in it without enduring that look.
All that aside though, I do find it stressful. It’s exhausting being alone, I have so much respect for those who do it alone all the time. No five minute break to just take a breath; no second opinion when the wee girl tells me my ear is ouch; no one to watch the kids while I nip to the pharmacy for antibiotics; no one to share the lifting and carrying (my back is killing me!); no one to chat to once the kids are finally in bed, to tell you it’s all okay after a crappy day. No one to share the responsibility, the discipline, the tears and, of course, the laughter.
I am on countdown to Saturday afternoon…!
How do you manage when one of you travels?
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I know the feeling Sara. My husband doesn’t travel but he works a lot of late shifts and weekends and I often find myself alone with the kids at bedtimes and sometimes whole swathes of time at weekends (I always end up on my Mum and Dad’s doorstep!). You’re right, it is more difficult and yet at the same time easier. Sometimes when he’s around everything becomes quite chaotic and the routine is a bit mucked up. He also looks after the kids on his own every Thursday when I’m at work and he also seems to breeze through it but I get home to find the house looking like a bomb has gone off! X #wotw
It’s funny isn’t it, how it can be so much harder, yet in a lot of ways easier :) My husband really does breeze through it, maybe they don’t worry as much?!
We’re generally both at home, neither of us has to travel overnight for work. We get so used to sharing things though that if one of does us go out for just the day it still throws things out of kilter.
It is amazing how you get used to doing things a certain way! Hubby generally does bath time and I find it really tiring adding that into my day :)
Ah, fortunately my kids do their own showers now but there’s still a lot of cajoling required.
I’m looking forward to that day :)
What look would that be sweetness?
He who ‘ignores the domestic stuff’
:-)
Oh, you know the one :)
I can relate to this post so personally! My husband travels a lot and I’m used to it in my head…but the sheer emotions of when one of the children are poorly or when the heating won’t come on and I’ve got to go it alone is so much to take…
Single parents have my respect in whole! I agree that the first and last days have their own particular poignancy, the last time my husband was on a two week trip abroad, we spent two whole days making a big banner to welcome him back, such saddos, but it kept us busy through a storm, so hey ho! :)
Enjoyed your post as always, Sara! xx
Oh yes, I should have mentioned the fear of something breaking! I love your banner idea, I think that might be our activity for tomorrow afternoon :)
Everything you have said is exactly how I feel when my hubby goes to US for a week. I can totally relate to this and yes, my house is tidier when he’s away too ;)
#WoTW
It’s hard isn’t it? I can’t decide if it’s tidier because he makes the mess, or if I get bored in the evenings without him to chat to and tidy up more :)
I totally relate to the domestic ignorance-when my daughter was very small my husband used to look after her two days a week whilst I worked. They would have a ball but the housework left in their wake used to drive me nuts!
I hope that ear infection clears up soon-nasty things i used to get a lot of when I was young.
Yes, to be fair he does some things, but always a slightly random selection and his prioritising is a little different to mine! We’ve avoided ear infections until now, this is her second… Antibiotics seemed to kick in straight away though x
I can understand exactly what you are saying it must be so hard as you are used to having the support I bet you all miss him loads. I am a single parent but somehow I think it is different as you get used to doing it alone, well at l do! #WotW
I think you’re right, you get used to a certain routine and I manage fine because I stick to a routine. But, I will be very glad when he’s home x
Fortunately, we don’t travel, so we both tend to be here. Sounds like an exhausting week, and poor wee girl. nice to have those vampire shows, though ;-) Thanks for sharing with #WotW
Exhausting, yes! And, I’m (half) watching the Vampire Diaries as I type :)
My fella never travels but tonight he has gone for a rare night out…..I’m finding it strange! Not at all the same….Don’t think I could cope with him working away x
It’s tough, I’m used to him doing the odd week and I have my routine, but I’ll be glad when he’s home x
Glad you have been coping! We were away from Mr Hubby this week and I did think I wonder how lone parents cope and we only had one trying day/night x
It is hard when you’re not used to it. I’m very glad that he’ll be back tomorrow.
My husband used to work away 5-6 days a week for 50 weeks a year. This lasted for about 6 years. It was hard going but it some ways I was more organised than I am now, I had to run the house like a military operation. Now I’m more relaxed and the house is actually more messy, but I’m sure the children like it better this way #wotw
Oh, that must have been tough. The longest I’ve done is two weeks, with a newborn! But, you’re right, you just have to have a really good routine!
I know ‘that look’ so well!
and the ‘ignoring the domestic stuff’!
when my youngest was little and he spent a few hours alone with daddy he said “Mummy is more organised but Daddy is more fun” after buying two tortoises and eating both McD’s and KFC on the same day! I guess that sums up why kids need two parents around :-D
That sounds exactly like the sort of day my husband would have with the kids :) And, I’ve just enjoyed an episode of Vampire Diaries with no ‘look’ :)
with my husband working 2 job, he wasnt really there to assist or help with tyhe house & my son so its feels like its just me really. Like you I stick with our routine, wakeup, prepare for school, school run, chores, school run and then trying to make him sleep. Afterwards at night I can do my blogging and some school stuff. I could do with some help tho. Thats why I miss my family home cuz I know in there there would be a lot of support. #wotw
I can understand that, being so far away from my family means much less of a support network here, it’s difficult. Routine definitely helps x