It was relayed to me a few days ago that my sweet husband will be working 100 hours a week for the next few months. Yikes! That’s a 14 hour work day. His working hours affect mine. As the CEO of this home, this is one project I didn’t anticipate. However, I will take it in stride. If things go well in the next few moths, many good things could come our way.
So, I find myself looking for ways to make the following weeks and days easier for him, the children, and me. My husband is my partner in crime. He tackles bath time every night, he does the dishes, helps pick up the toys, and allows me some sacred time to myself most nights. With that gone, I’m left wondering how I will get it all done with my sanity in tact. I’m going to have to be more efficient, think further ahead, and start taking very deep breaths. Patience has always been a fault of mine. I have little of it, but it has gotten sooo much better over the past two years. I’ve learned to breath, redirect, and to hit a virtual reset button to change a situation off of it’s current track. All very helpful. However, my work days are stretching just as his are now. Any helpful ideas? All will be accepted. What do you do to make your days smoother?
Just a quick note to say thank you to my mom who is here every Monday through Friday for five to six hours a day. Without you, I’d be lost. You are an amazing mother, grandmother, and best friend. You make my life monumentally better, not just by lending an ear or infinite support, but by doing the nitty gritty. You dig in deep with the munchkins. You don’t mind changing the poopy diapers, being spit up on for the hundredth time in one day, helping with time outs, putting kids down for naps, making bottles, and just being there. You are an amazing role model and have taught me so much. Thank you for reminding me daily that I don’t have to be perfect to be perfectly loved. (Still a favorite quote of mine.)
Today we are debating whether or not to go hiking with the kids or to a local festival. No matter what, we’ll have fun doing it! Will keep you posted!
9 responses so far ↓
sky girl // July 3, 2009 at 8:07 am |
Oh my. I lose my shit if Frenchie’s a half hour late at night. 14 hour days??? I would be certifiable.
Thank goodness for your Mom. She’s the key to your sanity through this.
Renovation Girl // July 3, 2009 at 12:19 pm |
The thought of this makes my heart race…The only advice I have is to decide what you’d like to get done the next day the night before. Then, attempt it in the morning. Kids are more patient than later in the day when they are tired. My friend swears by this technique with her three kids…she makes dinner in the morning because of this. I tried it and it works fairly well.
Good luck with this…phew!!!
Melissa // July 3, 2009 at 8:55 pm |
Good luck! I can relate and commiserate — my husband just started his own business and is usually gone from 6:00 a.m. till about 9:00/10:00 p.m. seven days a week which means I’m wrangling our 1-year old and 2 1/2 year-old solo. What has helped me (as hard as it is), is focusing on getting things done at night once the kids go to bed. We have leftovers for lunch and I cook dinner the night before and then just heat it up. I also cook bigger portions so that I’m only cooking 4-5 times a week. We do one big grocery run a week and I organize my list by where things are in the store to try and get through the store as quickly as possible and avoid meltdowns. I prepare all the sippy cups/bottles the night before too so I just have to grab them from the refrigerator before nap time, etc. Most importantly, I try to sit down for about 10 minutes to enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning and often remind myself to enjoy every moment with the kids because they’ll be grown up before I know it.
Best of luck!
lifelemons // July 6, 2009 at 6:48 am |
Good luck! Thankfully you your Mama around to help out when needed!
bri // July 6, 2009 at 7:59 am |
Plan it out – set up a schedule for every week. Set up things to look forward to each week – 2-3 activities out in the world per week get us through. And then little road trips to see family or just get away. The change of scenery gives you something to look foward to and the kids a new starting off point. With K in school + working 60 hours a week – I feel your pain
I pretty much plan our life and if he can pop in and out of it around his schedule he does. If not, I’ve learned to deal with that too. Ultimately this time has made me MUCH more confident as a parent and partner. I can do it all by myself. That’s pretty amazing. 
I’m sure you’ll find the same thing.
bri // July 6, 2009 at 7:59 am |
Plus we’re in the same boat – the pay-off for all the hard work and short term sacrifices (for us 2 years in school) will be life changing.
So I know it will be more than worth it.
Ms. C // July 8, 2009 at 5:28 am |
Hey Becky… you can do it! Like every change, with a little time it will become routine. This isn’t to say that you won’t miss Justin and his help, but you will adjust to a new normal. Thankgoodness for your mom’s help… maybe she can stay for bath time a couple of nights? I know that is the most frantic time around these parts!!
And then… voila! One day he will be back to normal hours and you will have your amazing partner back!
(Speaking as someone who’s husband works 100 hr weeks every week too…)
coffeegrl // July 9, 2009 at 12:18 pm |
Ugh. What a bummer
Still, the promise of good things to come is sweet! And the help from mom – what a blessing. Hang in there!
Linda Beth // July 17, 2009 at 6:27 pm |
I would go nuts! I know that’s not very helpful.
I like what the others said about planning events and playdates (don’t forget your second home at the zoo!) Can you hire a babysitter once a week for a night out? Or even hire a babysitter so you can spend a night in, just relaxing? I don’t know, I’m rooting for you! You’ve got my number if you need to vent!
xo
Flicka