Daily Vegas ~ Single Parenting VS Single Parent ~ Wordfilled Wednesday

We have reached the end of another deployment. The day that my Hubs will be returning is within reach. I can count down the hours instead of the months.

And boy oh boy, I ready to be done with Single Parenting! Every part of me is ready for a break. My son is a sweet little Squish, he is by no means a “difficult” child, but that doesn’t mean that doing it on your own isn’t extremely exhausting.

All the choices whether they are small or large decisions are all yours. Every time your child wakes in the middle of the night it is all you. Late night runs to the ER when your child has a temp of 105.5, yep just you.

Daddy Leaving - Squish just shy of 5 months

You sleep when you can, and cry when you can’t. You love every moment with your child, and praise every moment you can get away to breathe.

But the main difference between Single Parenting and being a Single Parent is eventually your spouse comes home. Whether they have been deployed for 5.5 months or they have been on business for 2 weeks. The moment your spouse/partner comes home and wraps you in their arms, you know that rest is in your future, the pressure of making choices for your child is again split, and you are once again parenting with someone you love.

Daddy home - Squish 9 months

I have had two deployments spanning just less than 10 months total to learn how to deal with Single Parenting. Those 10 months have given me is an amazing perspective into the daily life of a Single Parent.

Single Parents are amazing people. I don’t know how they do it, because let me tell you, it is not easy. Rewarding? Fun? Crazy? Chaotic? Amazing? Lonely? Yes, it is every one of those things, but it is not easy.

When the Hubs deployed the first time post baby, Squish was 5 months old; I had no family in Las Vegas. My mommy friends were newer friends, and had families of their own. I was embarrassed to accept offers of help, and forget about asking for help. By the end of that deployment I was SO.INCREDIBLY.EXHAUSTED.

There were days when I wasn’t sure I could do it anymore. I hadn’t slept more than 3-4 hours at one time. I look back and feel like I missed out on so many moments with my son. Even though I was there, mentally I had checked out.

This holiday season why not offer a full day off to a friend or family member who is doing it all alone. Tell them no is not an option. If they don’t want a whole day, tell them to take an hour to go to the grocery store, better yet tell them to take 2 so they can do some holiday shopping.

If you happen to be a Single Parent, or are Single Parenting and someone offers to help you. Just say yes. I know it isn’t easy to say yes, and harder still to ask for help.

Daddy Leaving - Squish 12 months

This deployment I was lucky enough to have my Sister-in-law here. She moved out to be closer to her nephew, find new opportunities, and to be there to help me when her brother deployed.

Because of her, and some really great friends; sure I am RIDICULOUSLY.READY for the Hubs to come home, but I don’t feel like I missed out on important moments. I’m tired, but I can breathe. I got out of the house almost once a week just me. It has made a world of difference.

Thank you Kim. Thank you Thursday friends. Thank you Hubs - for doing what you do, the privilege of staying home with Squish is one I am blessed to have. And Single Parents – You amaze me.

So more of a Wordful Wednesday than Wordless Wednesday, but a wonderful Wednesday none-the-less.

Other Wordless Wednesdays:

Parenting By Dummies

5 Minutes for Mom

A Beautiful Mess

Live and Love Out Loud