Single Parenting

John is out of town all week this week at the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta. Which means I am a single parent. Ugh! Parenting is hard enough when there are two of you working together.

I know some of you are single parents, and I must say I don't know how you do it. You are the most wonderful, hardest working, self disciplined people I know. I think God knew I could not do this on my own. And I am extremely thankful for that.

It's not so bad now that the kids are older, when they were younger it was pretty tough. Getting four kids ready and out the door on time. One time I came back from just a day trip, leaving John as the single parent, and my girls told me "Daddy said, if we didn't have a mom, we'd have SHORT hair!" That was just from one day of having to do their hair for school! What would he have done with a whole week? Luckily the girls are old enough now to do their own hair (sort of) if I'm not there.

And I just don't sleep well when John's not there. I think I must assume if their is a noise in the night, he will hear it, so I don't have to worry about it. But, when he's not there, I hear every little sound. Thankfully I have a dog now, (even if it is a tiny one, she will still alert me of an intruder) and two man size boys in the house.

So, this week, the first day of John being gone, the light in my bathroom burns out. It's not just kind you can unscrew & change. It took Kyle, on full size ladder trying to pry the light fixture off, so he could change it. If the kids had still been little I would have been going to the bathroom in the dark all week. ; )

Last time John was out of town I got a flat tire in downtown Phoenix. I don't know how to change a flat tire. (I don't even put gas in my car if I don't have to! I know your thinking I'm pathetic, and you'd be right, but I grew up with a dad and five brothers, and now have a husband and two teenage sons who will put gas in my car.) So, I called John in another state crying. He gave me a service to call, that came to where I was to change the tire for me.

And those of you who know me, know I'm not a morning person. Luckily for me, John is. But, so far this week, I have managed to get the girls ready for school, and to the bus stop on time. Barely, but, we made it. So, that is my week this week.

And to all you single parents out there, know that I am thinking of you, and praying for you.

You are Awesome!