My husband travels almost every week which isn’t always easy for a working mom with an 8-month-old and a 3-year-old. I find it hard rushing home from work and usually come flying through the door at 5:20, rushing to get home so that I can have substantial time with the girls before it is bedtime. And when Brent is out of town, it is especially hard because I am outnumbered in the two to one scenario.
After rushing out of work to get home as quickly as I can, the best part of my day is watching Zoe run up to the door to greet me and seeing Annie sitting on the floor smiling and waving her arms in excitement. But soon after this treasured moment ends, the work begins again. I have to quickly get dinner on the table, feed Annie, make sure Zoe eats her meal, clean up the kitchen, get them in the bath tub (every other night in our house) and finally ready for bed. I have learned to do just about anything with one hand while holding Annie in the other.
This situation is not just hard on me, it is difficult for everyone. The girls miss their Dad and their Dad knows that he is missing special time with them. We have started to get use to weeknights without Daddy, and Brent and I have done a better job of preparing for these nights which can make a world of difference.
We try to cook bigger meals one or two nights ahead of time so that I can serve leftovers while Brent is gone. Dad always calls in and talks to Zoe before she goes to bed. She has learned to have a pretty good phone conversation for a 3-year-old, and we think it is important that they talk when he is gone. I also try to keep the routine as best as possible, but every once in a while we do a fun girl’s night activity, such as PJ’s on early and jump in Mom’s bed for a movie – which is always a big hit.
I cherish this one-on-one time with my girls, but I have to admit that on some nights I could use another set of hands to help. I am sure there are a bunch of mom’s out there in the same situation (working and not).
Please let us know of any tips you may have to make a night without Dad easier.
8 comments
It’s hard, isn’t it? I can’t imagine how a single parent does it. My situation is similar, but a little different. I’m a SAHM to 2 preschoolers, and my husband travels only every few months, but when he does it is usually 1-3 weeks at a time and out of the country. One thing I do to keep myself sane is to find one of my other mom friends whose husband may also be out-of-town or working late, and get together with them and their kids for dinner (and share a glass of wine!) The dinner hour is always the worst part of the day to handle by yourself! Also, I might be more inclined to get a sitter to go to functions that I may have otherwise declined (like that Pampered Chef party or trunk show) just to get out of the house without the kids.
This comment does not have to do with todays post, but something very important close to our hearts. These are friends of mine from when I was younger at Hickory Grove Baptist Church. This is copied from his website:”Kris Lawing is a 36 year old non-smoker with a wife and 6 year old son. The doctors told him he had bronchitis but one month later….Kris was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Cancer” They are having a yard sale this weekend at Butler HS to raise money for this family. Check out his website at :www.krislawing.comI hope this is ok to post Jen P.Also please pray for this family. Thanks Jennifer HoyleMommy to:Alexis 6, AJ 5, Carson & Dylan 2
This is my life! Luckily I currently work from home Tues/Thurs so have the luxury of slipping from routine on Mon/wed nights! Girls nights in mommy’s bed are frequent here – and now that the weather is nicer – I like to play outside as soon as we get home from work – tuckers them out and I can prepare dinner while i watch them – makes it easier to get them inside after 40 minutes of running around…. I also will pick something easy up to eat once a week just to save from having to cook and clean (and dinner in the car is such a treat 🙂
When my husband travels during the week, I invite the in-laws over. They always love to see the kids and it is a welcome extra set of hands for me!
It is a juggling act some nights…I am a working Mom of 2..8 and 3 years old. I utilize my “crock pot” more when my husband is traveling. Pot roast, pasta, chili..there are easy recipes out there and so nice to come home and have it ready to eat! With such little evening time and a busy routine of baths,books, bed, anything to make dinner easier I am all for!
As a single mom with three under age six, I can identify … I also do a lot of cooking ahead and freezing single-size portions (my oldest is a picky eater). I find it’s helpful to have fun traditions for different nights of the week. The kids look forward to them, which makes the routine a little easier (on me!). Examples: Thursday night is bath crayon night, where the older kids can write on the tub with washable crayons. Sunday night is shower downstairs night (they shower in my space … I don’t know why that is special, but it is). Tonight we’re trying “backwards night” … the older kids get to tuck ME into bed, tell me a story, and put themselves to bed a little later. This one has yet to be proven before it can become a tradition – wish me luck 🙂
I can relate too as a single mom of an almost two year old. I often don’t get out of work to pick her up and get home before 6pm and she wants to eat IMMEDIATELY! The crock pot is my friend as well and I love the fact that frozen veggies are completely equal in nutritive value as fresh. There are so many great frozen veggie options (not just peas and corn — branch out! My daughter loves okra, broccoli and edamame!). The key is to get everything done in record time without making your child feel like you’re rushed or harried. Our 90 minutes together before her bedtime is truly quality time….we talk about our days while we eat and bathe, snuggle, kiss and read for a good 30 min before bed. Granted, after a full day at work in the office, a couple hours together and then a couple more doing the dishes, cleaning the house, doing laundry and other household stuff, we’re exhausted, but isn’t that what motherhood is all about?!?! I wouldn’t trade it or change a thing…
whew! but you do all this and very well at that! L