From Monday to Friday my wife was out if town, and I had to be a "single" parent. Here's what I learned in that week.
1: Having a Plan Rules
Not only did I know what I was going to pack them for lunch every day, but I knew what was going to make for dinner every night too. I mapped out what I was going to do in the morning beforehand so wed get out the door with minimal time wasted.
2: Getting up Early
I used to avoid getting up early because if he kids heard me they'd get up too - meaning I'd have to manage them with the added penalty of them getting less sleep. It seems like they are finally at an age where they understand sleep can be pleasant, so by getting up 15-30 minutes earlier, I was able to cut up some fruit and start breakfast.
3: You Can Be A Victim of Your Own Success
Monday's dinner was homemade subs (a la Subway) - it went over very well, so well that the Lightning Kid wanted it again for lunch the next day instead of the planned sandwich (which was a lot easier to make).
4: Driving Them Around Can Be Exhausting
I knew extra-curricular activities meant a lot of driving when I was doing about 50% of it, but when I had to do it all, it became draining; even in a small town where everything is only 10-15 minutes away. On the Thursday I counted 5 different out and back trips. And to avoid extras I stayed 'out' for nearly an hour while waiting for some goods from a fundraiser to be delivered, which really killed the afternoon's productivity.
5: The Kids Get Worse As the Week Goes On.
My way of scheduling and execution seemed to be a hit with the kids in the early to mid week. I think fatigue from school and structure builds up over the days and they got more unruly. I joked to myself that they got about 10% dumber every day...
6: Sleep
I didn't necessarily get the quantity of sleep that I should have, but overall I think I did fairly well. Some nights I got to bed earlier because I had no-one to talk to and no-one to wait up for. Also, with no-one in the bed next to me, I didn't worry about being woken up or waking her up.
7: It Wouldn't Be Sustainable
I'm proud that we didn't do take-out every night (we did go out to a restaurant once), there was still a frozen pizza, a homemade pizza, and sliders. 2 servings of fruits during the day but no vegetables. I already knew single parents do the near impossible, so I'm not surprised.
8: Manage Expectations- You Can't Do Everything
Like I said, they didn't get as many fruits and vegetables that they could have, I think I stayed on top of their homework well enough, but bedtimes slipped past their appointed hour. It's ok, I didn't need to achieve perfection.
9: Count Every Day As A Victory
I went to bed satisfied with the simple fact that I had kept them alive and healthy.
10: Appreciate Your Spouse
My wife came home to a bouquet of flowers.
