Anyone else?

My husband is gone about 300 days of the year for work and has been since the kids were about 6 months old. Am I the only one that is essentially a single parent? It would be nice to chat with someone who is in a similar situation

 

I am in a similar situation. My husband was gone 270 days last year. He is, in fact, gone right now. Lately, even when he is home, he works so much (12-13 hour days plus 1 weekend day) that we hardly see him. It is strange being sort of like a single parent, but not really. I think most single parents go to work? I do not since we live in a foreign country and I chose to stay home with my girls while they are little. They do go to preschool three days a week (just started) which gives me a break. But I am having a very hard time keeping my frustration and anger in check when I am the only one around. I seem to be on better behavior when he is around - I think I would be too embarrassed to act the way I did tonight when they had meltdowns number 10 and 12 respectively, if there were another human being in the house...

 

:wavey: "Single" mom here too! DH was gone for 4.5 months, home for 2 weeks, now gone for 2 weeks. When he is home he leaves at 5am and comes home at 5pm (but our boys go to bed at 6pm and we go to bed at 8). Any time I ask him for help making a decision with the boys, he says "you know so much better than me" which doesn't really help! :slap: I am happy that I am able to be a SAHM, but am really lonely, even when he is home.

 

I spent all year last year alone - of the 365 he was home maybe 15 days. Now that we have moved and should be a doing this together set of parents, his work schedule is such that he works all night and sleeps ALL day -to the point that he is rushing out of here in a hurry 5 or 6 days a week. On his off day(s) he still sleeps ALL day and "rests" the other part of the day so he of course cannot help with anything around here LOL! I am married but single. If he had this schedule in the beginning of our relationship I would still be a virgin LOL!

I understand what you are going through.

 

Glad to know that I'm not alone I've reached my breaking point because it gets to be overwhelming with everything that needs to be done (yardwork, housework, house maintenance, taking care of our two dogs--vet visits, grooming, cleaning up after them--and our cat, along with the kids). I just can't keep up. How do you guys keep on top of everything?

 

I know I let a lot of things slide. House is usually a mess and if someone is coming over, I straighten up. I figure the kids are my main job and other than paying the bills online and doing laundry, I can't do too much. Our front porch light has been out for 2 months. I can't reach it. I hired someone to take care of the yard and he took our money and refused to come back after a month (even though I paid him for 6). Now our grass grows until my neighbors mow theirs and I will mow ours during naptime. It is very frustrating but I try to focus on positive things and go with the flow. For example, I have 3 loads of laundry to put away, but I'll wait till the boys wake up from nap we we'll play upstairs while I work on that. I need my down time more than my clothes need folding. :ibiggrin:

 

I actually am a single parent. I think it is harder for you guys though because you have the times when you have somebody else and you have to adjust how things are done and then adjust when they go. I also pretty much get to do everything my way in terms of parenting choices without having to consult anybody. I'm also not a SAHM. I don't know how anybody does it. I absolutely could not be a SAHM, especially with no respite from a partner so hat's off to any of you who do that.

I couldn't believe how glad I was to leave for work today. The twos are hitting us hard.