I’m a bad blogger. I haven’t posted in over a month—pretty pathetic. At some point in early August, my work life started to take over my entire life and I had to make some choices: do I move my little blog to the bottom of the to-do list or do I spend my 18 waking hours a day working at my paying job and mothering my lovely children? Pretty easy choice if you ask me.
Yet, how many of us (women mainly) end up adding more and more to our already overflowing plates? When you’re married, you can delegate and share the responsibilities. But when you’re a single parent, you’re the one who has to hit the supermarket, feed the kids, help with homework, drive them to soccer practice, and get them up the next morning to start all over. How does it help when you then decide you also absolutely have to clean out the fridge, host a dinner party and, yes, write your blog?
We single parents must prioritize. Otherwise our children suffer. And our careers. Who wants to risk losing a good-paying job in this economy? Every once in a while I’ll ask for help. When I’m too overwhelmed with work projects, I’ll phone Mr. X and ask if it might be possible for him to take the kids a couple of nights while I catch up. I always make up for it the following week (believe me, the kids are sticklers for equal time spent with each parent). I never hesitate to help him out either—quid pro quo goes a long way. The kids certainly don’t want to hang out with a stressed out, workaholic mom. Better they’re home with me when I can be there for them.
I really don’t know how the fully single parent does it though. I have an excellent ex—I’m one of the lucky ones. For those of you slogging it out every day 24/7, I salute you. You are my heroes.
As for tonight, I’m back to writing my blog. Will another A Fine Divorce entry magically appear next week? All depends—the inside of the fridge is looking pretty fuzzy at the moment.
—The Fine Divorcée
afinedivorce 