Anyone else facing long stretches without their kids?

[TheThingOnTheIce]

And if so how will you fill your time? I’d planned on getting some dates in but I never got round to it and probably not in the right headspace . Might get the sewing machine out or do some free courses . Hate it when he’s not here

My DD is in Columbia for six weeks on an internship. I mean she’s at uni the rest of the year so now used to her not being around. But when she first left my schedule just went to pot. I used to drop her at the train for 7.30 for school and take the dog to the park so was up and out day started. Then she left and a few months later my dog passed away so now don’t even have to go for walks. I think I got quite depressed actually. I’m the kind of person who’s quite happy pottering around the house not leaving for days. Which I don’t think is good.
I had plans to take a couple courses but haven’t got round to it…but do get out. Don’t follow my example. Do those courses. Get that sewing machine out. Meet up with people. Days will drift by otherwise!

I hated it too, but accepted it as the right thing to do for my DC’s.

I tried to frame it as a positive - ‘who with kids ever gets so much time for themselves’ and ‘one of the bonuses of separated families’.

I did things for me, walking, swimming, coffee out with friends, a theatre trip. My friend, in a similar situation took the opportunity to head off to a festival with her sister.
Time to sit in the garden and read. I cooked well and ate healthily. I liked routine, up early, out for a walk etc.

As life is very busy as a lone parent I also took time to ‘get my house in order’. Decorated, cleaned, shopped ahead before DC’s returned (school uniform, stocked the freezer, booked days out, bought birthday cards/presents ready for the autumn. ) Great to be ahead (for once!).

Anything you like to do, especially things you can’t with a child?

Get yourself in the headspace for dates!
wardrobe revamp, declutter and tidy and decorate at home, nails and hair sorted, teeth whitening and fake tan, shcedule in friend dates, go to something cultural so you have things to talk about