wish you more

Whenever I’m home alone with the kids for more than a day or two, I start to think…how do single parents do it?

I mean, I can get through a couple of days. The crazy mornings, trying to get everyone out the door, the meals, the cleanup, the baths, the tantrums, the cleanup again, etc. But I’ve realized I don’t stop to think often enough about how grateful I am to be a part of a two person team that works side by side to keep things running smoothly.

I’m lucky enough to have a husband who definitely pulls his weight, both with the household chores and raising the kids. From the time we both get home to the time we go to bed, he participates alongside me every step of the way. Sometimes together, sometimes in a divide and conquer sort of way. And we both help each other out – one of us will often say to the other – “you head on up to bed, I’ll finish up these dishes.”

But those single moms – or dads – it’s THEM all the time. No backup, nobody else to help with cleanup…or tantrums…or baths. How are they not exhausted all the time? Maybe they are.  Maybe I need to think about that a bit more the next time I bump into someone I know that is handling it all solo.

So tonight, this is a shout out to all the single parents out there.  You rock.  I don’t know how you do it, but you impress me and give me strength at the end of a long day!