Has anyone ever told you to be careful what you wished for? I was reminded of that when I was first divorced and Hailey would go to her father’s for the weekend.
I remember so many times thinking, I wish she would be quiet for just a minute, it’s so noisy in here I can’t even hear myself think! Then her father picked her up for that first weekend visit.
Suddenly the house was too quiet, and I was at an absolute loss as to what to do with myself while she was gone. It got easier as time went on but those first weekends are hard.
If you are at the beginning of this the weekends can seem like something to get through but you need to change your attitude.
I would be excited when Hailey left but then after taking a bubble bath and reading a book in peace, I was pretty much pacing the apartment trying to thing of things to do.
Don’t let this happen to you. Schedule some fun for yourself while your kids are gone. This is your opportunity to relax and recharge for the coming week.
On Friday night, pamper yourself, take a bubble bath, paint your nails, pluck your eyebrows or just settle in with a good book. Make sure you have plans for Saturday. Lunch with your best friend and a day of window shopping. Or go hiking, take a bike ride, go to the library, anything that you usually wish you could do without the company of your little ones.
Just make sure you schedule this time for yourself, it will make those first weeks and months easier if you have something to look forward to. Don’t feel like you have to spend a lot of money. As a single mother money is always tight so sometimes I would schedule a girls night, invite a bunch of girlfriends over, everyone brings an appetizer and their beverage of choice. It costs very little money and you get some much needed girl time. You can even make this a regular occurrence, once every month or so everyone gets together. It’s a wonderful way to destress because who doesn’t laugh their heads off when they are spending time with their friends.
The more little things you do for yourself the better mother you will be. So take those weekends to regroup and have fun, it will be worth it when they are home and you can’t remember what quiet sounds like.