To all you single parents or parents whose partners are deployed/away for business, God bless you. I don’t know how you do it.
I have a husband who is a fantastic help. We have a system and we each have our responsibilities when it comes to errands with the kiddos. We both have full time jobs that keep us away from our family quite a bit as well.
The past few weeks I have been running back and forth trekking my kids to different classes and events. My days off have been busier than the days I work. I have an app on my phone that tracks my mileage. One of my days “off” last week I drove 190.2 miles going back and forth from my house to schools and appointments.
Here is an example of my last few weeks. I would work night shift, 7p-7a, get home, shower, change clothes, and start my life. Meanwhile, a hurricane decided to find its way onto the coast of North Carolina. Although I live in the middle of the state, the forecast was that it would impact us too. Aside from preparing my home and family for potential catastrophe, we were in preparation mode at work too. I work in public safety. It was all hands on deck.
So I worked Wednesday and Thursday nights, Hurricane Florence hit us Friday. We lost power at our house that night. Sunday night I got called back into work. I then worked my regular shifts Monday and Tuesday night. Wednesday I had a to take Sage to the vet for her Rabies vaccine. I showed up an hour late… oops! They managed to squeeze us in. I then had to drive 20+ miles to downtown to pick up both of my boys from two different schools, drop one off at Driver’s Ed 25 miles from there, drive the other to an optometrist appointment 6 miles to go back and pick up the first son from Driver’s Ed before going home.
Thursday started with taking my daughter to the eye doctor, returning her to school in downtown Raleigh, going back to a chiropractor appointment, heading to the other side of town to pick up school uniforms, going back downtown Raleigh to get Gregory and drive hime 25 miles to Driver’s Ed, drive another 25 miles to pick up Kenzie from run club, then back to pick Gregory up from Driver’s Ed, then another 25 miles back downtown for a graduation information session, after which I needed to feed my poor senior, finally to get home around 8:30pm.
My days off have not been very restful…
All of these are temporary. My children will one day be grateful for our sacrifices.
All of the parents out there who don’t have the support of another person, you are miracle workers. I don’t understand how you can do all of the things you do and keep your sanity.
God bless you, every one!
Oily Minded Medic 