A Week of Lone Parenting

A week of lone parenting when you're used to dual parenting?


This week the Hubby goes to South Korea and I'll be alone with the boys...

Zombie and Frankenstein children's costumes
*screams

In the past (more than 6 years ago) the Hubby would often have to travel to the US for work. Meetings with Publishers, potential deals to be done and various games industry trade shows meant he would be away for a week at a time. He also worked in an office back then too. Parenting Big Prince alone wasn't a problem because it was part of our routine.

The Hubby has worked at home since 2009 and I’ve got used to having him around all the time. We have lunch together every day, we chat, and I'm lost if he goes out. Little Prince has never known a time when the Hubby wasn’t at home.

But from 2pm tomorrow afternoon the boys and I will not see the Hubby until Sunday evening. 

Frankenstein Halloween Costume
Even with a mask LP can't 
leave his nose alone!
I can’t decide which bothers me more; Hubby being away or lone parenting. I’m not used to having lots of time alone. My fear is that I’ll spend the time filling my face with chocolate and crisps. Lone parenting is scary too, I mean the boys don’t listen to me at the best of times. BP is entering the stage where everything is a chore, even using his computer. And LP, well he’s manic. He runs around the house screaming and shouting as soon as he comes home from school. It doesn’t stop until he goes to bed.

I've spent this past week saving up chores. My ironing pile resembles Everest; the laundry baskets are overflowing. I’ve also promised the boys I’ll play games with them. LP has some card games he’s been bugging me to play and BP wants me to help him work on his stories. A hairdresser’s appointment on Wednesday will fill up time too.

Ever since we found out the Hubby would be going on this trip I’ve been preparing. It is such a big change to our daily routine that we all needed to be ready for it. But now I’m wondering if there's enough time for everything. My hope is that I’ll be so busy I will forget about the lone parenting and just get on with it.

Do you have any tips for coping on my own with these monsters?

Zombie and Frankenstein Costume