Reflections of a (temporary) single parent

First of all I'd like to give a big "You Are My HERO!" shout out to the single moms I know- you know who you are. God bless you.

I've been a temporary (poser, if you will) single parent for one week and three days now, with 4 more days to go in this stint. Matt gets home on Friday and let me just say, I am reeeeallly looking forward to sleeping in on Saturday. In fact, they'll be lucky if I make it out of bed before lunch. Actually I will because we have friends coming to visit, otherwise I likely would not.

Dramatics aside, I really have had the best week with Madelyn. She has been so awesome and I really think we've bonded. The thing that is most-stressful and draining about being the only parent around is just the stress of knowing you have to do everything yourself. Knowing no one is there to help you. It's tiring just thinking about it. I learned that on the weekends when Madelyn takes her one one-hour nap, I nap too, otherwise I am just worthless for the rest of the day. Entertaining her is surprisingly exhausting, and she is seriously the happiest, most even-keel child.

The stress comes in knowing that when your little one goes to bed, your night is just getting started. Dishes, laundry, dusting, bill paying, etc etc. Not exactly my idea of relaxing, but someone has to do it! It's tough. I'm really lucky that Matt is so involved and is a true participant in all of the household chores and of course, parenting. And that Madelyn has given me lots of hugs and kisses in the past week, because that of course, makes it all worth it :)

This week we'll be entertaining friends and leaving our little monkey with the in-laws for a night so that we can stay out past 8 on the 4th of July (woop woop!). Watch out, Atlanta. If I pass my current one-glass-of-wine limit you may be in for a special treat ;)