I need a little encouragement.

[suziek]

Just feeling overtired and in need of some respite--a few restorative moments, a few new thoughts.

Even just writing this has made a difference and I already feel a little better.

Here's what is going on:
My Dh has been gone for 6 weeks, it's February, the kids are tired and cranky too. My mom, who is the only person who really likes taking care of my children (besides me and DH) is away for the month. We are crazy busy with sports, a play and preparing the house to get put on the market. I'm also involve in some important (to me) political stuff in my community that takes a lot of time. IT's mainly small stuff but it feels piled on my back and I want to feel fun and have a good laugh. I want to connect better with my kids. I want to sleep.

In truth, I am about as lucky as a person can get. I have really astonishing happy healthy kids and a good husband whom I love. But I've got the Februaries and I want a lonnnng vacation in the sun with books, happy children and my man.

Thansk for reading this! Is there an e in encouragement?

[momasana]

It's tough when your partner is gone, especially with so much going on in your life right now! You have a great attitude about it all.

Any chance you can plan a vacay for when DH gets back?

[suziek]

Thanks for that hug.

When Dh and I last spoke he suggested planning a quick trip to the sun (we have three birthdays soon so we could do this instead of parties and gifts). But the research is more time I don't have and everything is so so expensive.

But enough. I just read a teenage mother post that put things in perspective. Now I'm off to sleep--the only solution to overtireness. And it's free!!!

[mandib50]

i have a husband that is gone a lot too so it gets pretty crazy doing all the kids stuff myself. plus this time of winter can be tough mentally. hope you feel better after a good sleep

[Violet2]

I don't know if this will help, but I offer it in the spirit of good humor

The movie Couples Retreat (rather mediocre overall) has a funny scene with this off-the-wall yoga instructor who is a leech and looks like Fabio (may actually be him, not sure). He smacks women and men both on their butts and says in a thick accent 'encouragement' as they attempt advanced karma sutra like yoga.

It is just really bizarre in a good way. Dh and I were laughing.

So pretend Fabio has just smacked your butt and growled in a sexy accent 'encouragement' in your ear. See if that gets you through the day or not

Hang in there momma.

V

[hopefulfaith]

February is so hard, and it is so much harder when you're parenting solo. My dh travels a bit for work, and when he was gone for ten days earlier this month, I started inventing random holidays for the kids to celebrate, just to keep us sane. For instance, I greeted my son before lunch one day with, "Hey! Did you know that today is Make Your Own Sandwich Day??!!?!" His mouth flew open -- "It IS? YESSSSSSSSS!"

He was blissful all day because of it.

Also, brownies help.


You can do it!!!

[suziek]

i'm going to eat some brownies, get some sleep and dream of fabio. thanks, women! I knew I could ount on you to understand and make me laugh

[Just1More]

Yeah, when my dh is gone we party. A LOT. Ice cream is big around here.

The more kids I have, the less fun it is, but I'm a big believer in retail therapy. Not so much buying, but going out and just wandering. We walk the mall alot. And, of course, you have to get pretzels and lemonade while you are there.

I've realized it's a four day cycle for me. When the house is a wreck, and I feel like I just CAN'T, and there's no one to do it but me, and there is NO END IN SIGHT, I remind myself of this. I know that by day 4, the house will be clean, and I will have managed to reconnect with the kids. And, I won't be so tired! If we go out for the day, I know it will take me 4 days to recover. So, now I know that, I cut myself some slack. Today, I can't. So, I stop pushing that wall in front of me. I deal with real live NEEDS only, and then tomorrow I"ll see if I can work in a want or two.

Another thing...I tend to apply this to oatmeal, but the lady I heard it from said,

"So, when my dh is gone, and I'm in the bathtub crying my eyes out (deployment...military family), and the kids are hungry, I figure if poptarts are good enough for breakfast, WHY can't they be good enough for supper?"

Oh, and I'm TOTALLY using "today is make your own sandwich day." What a clever way to get kids to help AND catch a break.

[claddaghmom]

I'm feeling the "februaries" too. What a cute name!

It's really a thorn b/c we cancelled our sun vacation so we could afford a cousin's wedding and a silver anniversary. It would have been the only vacation we could pull off before the baby is born...and probably for the next 2 years due to changes in DH's grad school schedule.