My partner will be abroad for a few months and I was just trying to figure out this detail of singe parenting.
2007-02-24 20:25:35 · 19 answers · asked by lakat 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
I do everything from showering to housework to even preparing the food for the next day's meals once my kids are asleep. My youngest can destroy a room in less than five minutes not to mention disappear in the blink of an eye. He takes a lot of supervision and entertaining. I haven't had a full eight hours sleep since he was born, but I guess that is the price one must pay to run a household that includes a child who is a real live wire. I keep living in hope that he might slow down. I used to say maybe by the time he is five… now we've nearly reached that milestone, I'm starting to say maybe by the time he's 10…??? At least you will be able to tell yourself that it is only for a short period of time. So some things might slip while you're parenting on your own, but that is preferable to your sanity slipping. If possible, when the kids do finally get to bed, take a break before you get stuck into everything that needs doing. It is amazing what even 10 minutes can do to recharge your failing batteries :)
2007-02-24 23:34:04 · answer #1 · answered by Avril P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have 4 young children. i have been single since the last 2 were born. Twins 9 and twins 8..............I know, i know. Anyway, sometimes you are too exhausted to shower when they finally go to sleep. But even better, wash your hair and face in the kitchen sink while they are wondering what the heck you are doing, then run your bath water and you can take a bath in less than 1 minute and get just as clean as an hour long bath. Make-up is something you can do anywhere, anytime. Just give them an age appropriate thing to keep them busy for all of 12 minutes, hair, face, and body.
2007-02-25 06:04:38 · answer #2 · answered by UP 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am a single mom of three. My youngest are two and three and I have had this dilemna myself. I used to take a bath when they went to sleep but was so exhuasted I fell asleep in the bath often. I am too tired to take showers and like you said they need constant supervision so a morning shower was out of the question. I do like showers though so it may seem silly but we all get in the shower together and they take a bath while a take a shower. When you are on your own as you will be for awhile, you have to come up with creative solutions.
2007-02-25 11:18:00 · answer #3 · answered by Jen 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It might sound drastic compaired to everyone elses answers, but I was a single mom for 4 years. I know you need some you time once in a while. Hire a sitter to come for maybe an hour every other day, you can shower, take a nap, run erands, stuff like that that you want to do alone. It's a wonderful treat and you can find a high school kid for extremely cheap.
2007-02-25 08:54:59 · answer #4 · answered by princess 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the children are below 1 years old and over 3 years old,they don't need constant supervision.If I needed a shower,I would just let the child play in his/her room and go to take a shower.
2007-02-25 09:02:20 · answer #5 · answered by Livia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Weekdays:
5:15am I get up, shower, get ready for work
6:00am pack the day care bag, put away dishes, get the baby stuff ready
6:30 get the baby up, dressed
6:45am out the door
7:15 drop the baby at daycare (in the same town where I work)
7:30 start work
4:00 done with work
4:15 pick up the baby
4:45 get home, change clothes, unpack baby bag
5:00 dinner
5:30 relax, spend time with baby
7:00 bath
7:30 bottle, cuddle time, story
8:00pm bedtime for baby
8:15 dishes, get out clothes, clean up, wash bottles, make bottles.........
9:00 quite time for mom
10:00 bedtime for mom
Weekends I sleep til the baby wakes me up. We have breakfast together in our pj's. she goes in the pack n play with a Baby Einstein DVD while I shower. She sits in the bathroom with me while I put on some make-up. I take her with me when I get dressed, then I dress her. She plays in the kitchen while I cook for us, and I take her everywhere I go. She is a very mellow baby, and loves hanging out with her mom.
It is NEVER easy, but ALWAYS worth it. I am her world. she looks at me like I am the greatest thing she has ever seen. And she is my reason for living right now. So I do what I have to.
2007-02-25 21:04:37 · answer #6 · answered by ShellyLynn 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
After they have gone to sleep or take them in the bathroom with you. Just be sure to secure the toilet lid so they don't climb in and drown.
Try not to worry to much about things before they happen. You will find that most problems come with answers. You will figure it all out and wonder what seemed so scarey at first.
2007-02-25 04:31:21 · answer #7 · answered by Batty 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well they're asleep. If they don't go to bed until later, then maybe just ask them nicely if they can find something to do well your in the shower.
You could also try bribing them or hiring a babysitter for 20 minutes.
2007-02-26 01:51:08 · answer #8 · answered by antonios mama ♥ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When my ex was overseas my daughter was basically my shadow. She went with me when I had to go to the toilet and she went with me when I took a shower. I had a "tubbie ring" it was a non slip mat and a ring with feet that had suction cups that I would sit her in we had a hand held shower head so I could rinse without it "drowning" her and while I was in there I'd bathe her as well.
2007-02-25 05:11:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
At night after they are sleeping! It's the only way I can do it. It helps too when in the morning I can just roll out of bed and throw my clothes on.
2007-02-25 14:42:21 · answer #10 · answered by Sylvia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋