If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the past 6 years is that parenting? It’s a mystery.
You can read a million books. You can take parenting classes. You can prepare yourself in 100 different ways…but ultimately, it’s just you (a collective you), your instincts, your power of manipulation, and patience. Lots of patience. And maybe some wine.
A big glass of wine.
My first 4 years of parenting I went solo 3-5 nights a week. The hubby is a manager a retail store and well, it is what it is. He would have to close the store and I would have my own kind of night duty. The first 18 months of B’s life we barely spent a single weeknight together. I won’t lie, it was frustrating and lonely at times. On the plus side, I’ve spent A LOT of quality time with my kids!
And I took a lot of pictures of them…
This continued when the hubby went back to school (but only a few times a week) and while it wasn’t ideal we realized something, despite feeling like you are doing all by yourself… when it’s just one of us, it’s easier.
It defies logic, I know. My only guess is that there is less of an audience, so therefore there is less of a show.
When we are both here it’s pretty much chaos. Kids screaming at each other at daycare pickup. Kids fighting while I making dinner, Kids complaining while we are eating. Screaming, whining, complaining. You get the point.
But tonight the hubby had to close. The first time in a long and time. You know what happened? Yep. Silence.
Proof that sometimes they aren’t killing each other.
Tonight the kids were…dare I say… great? Sure, they were a little tired whiney (for the record, so was I) but they played together NICELY, ate dinner without complaint it helped that they were eating mozzarella and tomato paninis), showered without killing each other, and actually went to bed with kisses and not crying.
Easy.
Now, I do not miss my solo nights and I bow down to single parents who have no choice but to do it alone, but every now and then — it’s nice to be reminded of what you have… and, oddly enough, to get a little peace and quiet.
But back to that parenting thing… Yeah. I don’t get it. Hope you weren’t looking for any advice!
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Ditto. And every phase of their life comes with a whole new “WTF is this, and what do I do about it?”
Alecia recently posted..Photos I’ve been too lazy to upload
Lately I feel like I want to laugh a people who have new babies (just one) and complain about tough it is. Then remember that I was there too and oh so dramatic. Ahhh…those were the days!
You are both great parents. Yes, sometimes its easier to deal with the “darlin’s” with only one adult present! One reason I babysit alone.. they are perfect little people..ask them for help and you get 4 hands and feet! Sometimes it good be alone..but not for long! Enjoy your babies..they are growing up so fast!!
They are growing up too fast. *sniff*
HER FACE IN THAT PICTURE!! (2nd to last, but I’m sure you knew which one I meant) OMG it’s so cute and dramatic!
I only hope I handle parenting as well as you seem to when I have kids!
Rachael @ Happy Healthy Runner recently posted..my life in instagram photos
Yeah – she’s not dramatic at all or anything, right? LOL.
I can’t say I am awesome at parenting, but I do enjoy the challenge — and every day is a new one
Ha ha.
Ok so I’m not alone in this! My husband just finished 5 long years of school where I was a single parent for 2 nights a week sometimes 3. I never had any issues, the house was clean the kids didn’t fight and the second it was the two of us utter and total chaos! I’ve been telling him for years it isn’t like this when he’s gone! When he’s home we have a gross dirty house, fighting, whinny, crying it’s horrible. Why is it they are so good when it’s just one of us?
Renee recently posted..It’s HUMID up in here
Definitely NOT alone. A few others have said this happens to them too! I appreciate it when I am alone with them, but not when it’s crazy nuts at our house
You mystify and amaze me. I can barely handle my dog.
Melissa recently posted..Now I’m a Lamp
The same thing could be said for yourself. I don’t think I could handle your dog at ALL!! However, I do believe that you can always do more than you think possible. Just need to come up with a strategy!
BABY PICTURES!!!!!!
Katy Widrick recently posted..Getting My Hippie Dippie On
It seems like it’s a bit easier when your kids are cuties. People tend to have no patience with terrible children that are not adorable…myself included. I said it.
Sierra @ Posh Meets Pavement recently posted..Bushmans Kloof, Part 2
Ha! I admit I feel that way about mosts people’s kids even if they are cute. I love the heck out of my kids and my friends’ kids, but I’m not a kid person (babies are a different story). Thank goodness the whole “it’s different when they’re yours” thing is true!!
Twinsies huh? Yep, my kids have the same behaviors when it’s just me at home. (I don’t know about the hubs, he gets frustrated easily.) I think it’s cause I give them the “Don’t you dare mess with me tonight” look as soon as we get home. I’m also announcing what’s going to happen next. For example, “After dinner, you are doing your homework.” “After homework, we will watch one show and then go take our bath.”
Tara @ texasrunnergirl.com recently posted..Weekend wrapup and beginning of marathon training
We do the “announcing what’s next” every night — but I’m pretty sure they only half listen when we are both there. It’s ALWAYS the same thing too – so you’d think they wouldn’t be surprised, but no. It’s like we just threw a big surprise party on them when we announce after dinner is shower time. LOL.