I Could Get Used to This....

I have to be honest…not having my husband home, but having him living locally and helping out with the kids is working quite well. This may just be an ideal arrangement. I feel sort of bad saying that. And perhaps it is an “anything is better than nothing” mindset. When you have had no help, any little bit you get feels huge.

Take this weekend. Yesterday I picked the kids up and took them to therapy, then to swim with their friend. Brought them home, put them to bed. This morning, we got up and met my husband (do I still call him that?) at the coffee shop at 9:30. He then took snacks to my daughter’s soccer game (it was our week but she has decided not to play) and I took the kids to my son’s game. Husband met us at my son’s game. After the game, he hung out at the park with the kids while I went to get some exercise. I got an hour hike in before coming home and relieving him. He went to do whatever it is he wanted to do. This was at about 1:30. At 5:30 he came back so that I could go and get a coffee and then go “contra dancing” with a friend. He will put them to bed while I am gone. Tomorrow he will have them from 9:30 until around 2 and he plans to take them fishing.  This will give me time for a hike and hopefully to purchase and put in pots, some tomato plants. I will then have the kids for the rest of the day.

This is working quite well for me. I got used to not doing things with all four of us. It was usually me taking them to the park or to friends’ houses. That has not changed. While it would be ideal to do things all together, I sort of got over that. Now I am just enjoying the free babysitting. And some time to myself : )

I will give them man credit. He has been reliable regarding being with the kids. I am hoping he can keep it up. I can live like this. I can be okay. I can handle being single. And they will still have a dad. And one who behaves himself, as he seems to do okay in these bursts of time.

I don’t want to be back with him though. I am doing plenty without him around and actually learning a lot. Yesterday, a friend of mine from work realized she had a flat tire. For some reason, she texted me to see if I knew how to change it. I told her no, but that we should figure it out. So we went out to give it a try. Fortunately, a few of the guys we work with were able to guide us and we actually did it. I am almost 38 and I have never changed a tire myself. I have watched my husband do it. I have watched AAA do it. But this time, it was ME. I got a good laugh because my friend said her dad had tried to teach her and her grandpa had tried to teach her but she never learned. I told her that no one in my family ever tried to teach me. Instead, my father got me AAA and told me that I should renew it annually for $40 and they would take care of it. Doing things yourself feels good. And trying new things. Like this “contra dancing” which I had never heard of.