I salute you!

So with my better half away for a week, I have been sampling the joys and pitfalls of the lone mother with an awol partner! 

JOYS

1)      I can watch whatever I like on TV – uninterrupted.

2)      I can read my book in bed without the TV on

3)      I can make meals that I want to eat and incorporate vegetables.

4)      No one steals the duvet

5)      Any mess is my mess so I am happy to tidy it – or not!

PITFALLS

1)      Having to organise three children in to various forms of childcare each day.

2)      Juggling being good cop and bed cop to maintain any standards of behaviour.

3)      Making decisions about my children on my own, (even minor ones like should they wear a coat –yes or should they lose a marble from their jar for saying poo – no)

4)      If one of the children wakes at night there is no one to kick and say ‘Your turn!

5)      There’s no one to talk to over a glass of chilled wine once the children are asleep.

It seems pretty even on the face of it but I‘ve found being a single mum – even for a week is really hard work!!

I knew it wouldn’t be easy but was unprepared for the sheer continuousness (is that even a word?) of being both parents rolled into one.

I have several friends with husbands serving in the forces abroad and know that being a military wife, means long periods of absence where you have to be both parents, you are the one who see the highs and lows and you can’t share them over a glass of wine at the end of the day.

 I have only had a small taster of being a lone Mum whilst my husbands’ away but my respect for the wives of those serving abroad has reached new levels. 

They truly are an inspiration to the rest of us.