Tina Musial's Blog
Posted by Tina Musial
A while back I asked if single parents ever felt they had a vacation. Suprisingly, almost half did. Not surprising, 25% said, "Vacation, what is that?"
As a single parent I know my down time is limited. And I mean down time. Not just when the kids are in bed or at school, but away with Grandma, and Aunt or their dad for 24 hours or more. Those times are few and far between, and when it does happen I find myself just basking in the quietness of it.
Sure, I make lists of things I can accomplish and errands I can run without them, but I rarely complete them. I may end up taking a nap or saying, I need a break and do nothing. I usually venture online and waste time on the computer, even though I am plugged in ten hours or more everyday!
My free time draws to an end and then I know single parent status must resume. In the wee minutes of solitude is when I usually squeak in a couple of the things I swore I would do. The bathroom gets a scrub, the floor a quick mop...fun things like that.
And see how single parenting and vacations turned into...well, not a vacation? I guess I answered my own question. No vacation here either. A little down time and then it's back on the clock!
Posted by Tina Musial
We were having a particularly trying day. I was with a friend and his two kids, and after being out for a picnic and two of our children's soccer games, not to mention the usual weekend activities, we were tired. After his child didn't cooperate during her game, we loaded up all of the lawn chairs, the snacks, the food, etc. Another five minutes of bickering and he was fighting not to lose his own temper.
Then he did. He said he was glad soccer was over and he could sure stand to go home and get a drink!
My seven year old pipes up from the third row - "I can get you a drink. How about fruit punch?"
The innocence deflected the temper immediately. Well, he didn't specify what type of drink. And we did just finish a picnic a few hours earlier and the cooler was still in the back.
A moment is all it takes to restore the peace.
Posted by Tina Musial
Well, this weekend I took my kids camping. It's not my first venture camping as a single parent, but I wonder if it may be my last!
Camping from my childhood brings forth memories of campfires, going to the beach and eating lots of good food. As an adult, I see why my mom didn't care about camping - it's a lot of work! First their is the packing and the shopping and planning. Then load it up, get it there, set it up. Of course, someone is hungry and wants a snack before the tent is up or the food unloaded.
Luckily, my kids are avid SURVIVOR watchers. They do understand the concept of needing shelter ALMOST as much as they need food. I say almost, because they know all they have to do is get to a package and they can open it up. Why can't I stop mid tent and get the S'mores stuff out? Oh, well, you can make a fire quick too before going back to the tent. It's dark? So, we'll hold the flashlight so you can get the tent up.
It goes on like this for awhile. I think the tent ended up being together by 11:15 and the kids in bed at 11:30. Yes, they did sleep in - until almost 8:30!
After three crazy days of "relaxing" as we run to the park, swim, rent pedal bikes, cook, clean, shop for dry clothes since it rained a foot, go off-roading, visit Grandma's camper twice AND shake Yogi Bear's hand, it's time to head home.
Why do I not feel like I had a vacation? Hmmm. It may be the pile of laundry, soggy boxes of food to put away and the inch of sand in the vehicle that needs to be swept out. Relaxing - not really. Fun - yes! Will we do it all over again in 3 weeks - yes!
Single parent vacations may not be all that relaxing, but then, what vacations really are with kids? At least the stuff is semi-packed for the next round!
Posted by Tina Musial
The price of gas is annoying, for sure. Whether you are a single parent or not, it makes one hold a groan when the numbers continue to rise on that billboard sign.
Yesterday around town gas was 2.64. Then we had a huge jump - 30 cents! - in the afternoon at every station except for one. The station had to call in the State Troopers to direct traffic since it was such a mad rush to get in there.
I looked at my gas gauge and was fine, but is it worth it? To sit in line for an hour or more to save a few dollars? Yes, those dollars do add up, but at what price against your sanity?
I was putting it in perspective yesterday. Gas has gone up and I've coped. If peanut butter were to double in price, I may get upset. See, I buy the four pound tub which usually costs around 7-8. If it were to copy gas prices of late, it would be double that price in two years. My picky eaters would have to hone their taste buds and quick.
Why is it that some price hikes bother us more than others? We pay $1 for bottled water, when it can be free from a tap. Maybe it's just the principle - we know the gas companies are making money - and we don't like not having a choice to gas. Afterall, if name brand peanut butter were to double, we can always choke down a generic brand for less. We aren't that advanced with gas yet, I suppose.
Posted by Tina Musial
My dilemna has finally arrived. I have one child who has soccer practice at 5:30 and another at 6:00 at the same school (different teams) and a third who has a baseball game at six at yet another school.
HELP!!!
Sister's taxi service to the rescue! And I only let my kids choose one activity at a time. How do parents cope with children who do two or more activities at a time? Are they just insane? Or am I since I limit the activities?
What do you do? Do you run yourself ragged so your children can experience it all or make them choose one activity? If they don't like it they can pick another for the next season? Let's start a discussion...
