Flying Solo

First Posted May 22, 2009 on el Bed.com

A friend pointed out to me once that it’s impossible to babysit your own children.  “Good point,” I agreed, after giving the idea some thought.  I guess it really bugs her how dads say they are babysitting when Mom isn’t around. 

Tonight Nancy, as well as our oldest daughter and several of her friends are up at Bear Lake for a Vacation Party (also known as a long, sleepless night with 8 giggling girls.).  Ah, the last birthday party for over a month.  You would have thought we were starting a business with all the logoed paper we generated this week.  Branding is the term, and branding is what we did.  What party is complete without a tri-fold flyer, matching thank you cards, luggage tags, even water bottles with the party logo on them?  The most fun for me was the CD with traveling songs on it.   Yes, it had a full size logo sticker on it.

Tonight the younger four children and I watched a movie and ate junk food.  I may not be the best parent they have but they all did eat a decent dinner before the show.  And after the movie they all brushed their teeth, said their prayers, and were snuggly in bed before 8:30. 

I do still occasionally slip and call this babysitting.  The really odd thing about that is, except for the movie and treats, I’m involved in this same bedtime routine every night.  Only this weekend, I’m flying solo.  It really does make a difference though when you’re doing it all on your own.  I definitely see one area where I under-appreciate my sweetie pie. 

This also makes me think of my own mother, who was alone for most of the years she raised children.  I can’t figure out how she did it.  When you are stressed out of your mind, what do you do?  You can’t just leave, you can’t just stop being a parent, you can’t just say to your spouse, “tag, you’re it,” or "I cleaned up the throw up last time," or "you change this nasty diaper while I go investigate that explosion in the boys' room."  Your only option is to just dig deeper and make it happen. 

So to all of you women and men out there who are doing it by yourself, who are making it work without a built in “babysitter”, and who are digging deeper and taking great care of your children on your own, I salute you.

Clark