Tips for parenting solo for a couple of months

[anaconda1831]

Hoping for some tips for balancing everything and keeping everyone happy and healthy while my partner (kids dad) is away for 2 months on a training course for a new career. He will come back for some but not all weekends. We have always shared parenting equally he's a very hands on dad. If you are a single parent or if your coparent works away often, is there anything you can recommend I do/don't do to keep things as calm and well run as possible?

thanks!

for context:

I have DS5 and DD3, DS is in school and DD in nursery 3 days with with my dad 2 days. I do agency work and am just making myself available for hours between the school run. We are comfortable but not well off and don't have anything spare at the end of the month.

I have two DCs in their teens now and their dad works away about 8 months full time every two years or so.

I would say … it’s okay to just resort to takeaways and ready meals sometimes. Short cuts can be good. If you are in tgdmood to batch cook and freeze on occasion, then do it when you can.

I know that doing it solo is normal for many, but it’s not your normal yet so you will have teething issues sometimes. Go easy and be empathetic with yourself. My mantra on occasion was Everyone is fed, no one is dead’ and that includes you.

Do some test runs before he goes. So you can identify any sticking points. But you will manage, don't worry.

Solo parent here- outsource what you can, make things easier if possible like pre cut veg for example.
Get into a routine, chunk time e.g. two hours Saturday morning to give key areas a good clean.
Tidy as you go, never go upstairs or down empty handed.
Swap resources with others e.g. have another child over to play and then the following week yours go there to play.
Go to bed with the kids some nights- it really helps to get enough rest in.
Have a bare minimum standard for the days where that’s all there is in your energy tank.
Don’t expect things to be the same as when your other half is home, knowing it will be different makes it easier to accept the change.

I prefer it on my own 🙃

Can you increase nursery for a few months so your dad can help you keep on top of jobs for a day?

I make a couple of dinners at once - so might do a curry to last us a couple of days or pasta one night, pasta bake the next. We'll often have supermarket pizza one night as well. I always have extra veg or salad with mine for health!

Get yourself a nice treat for after bedtime - could be cake, new book, some nice bath stuff. Try to get to bed at a decent time (I am very guilty of staying up late and it leaves me even more knackered)

Weekends when he's back, he deals with the kids. Just get the fuck out of there. 😆 It's your time to recharge. He's had every evening off, you need time.

Perfectly doable for a short, finite period. When we were moving country, DH had to start his job in October, whereas I had to work the rest of the academic semester and DS’s school place wasn’t available till January, so he and I stayed on till he finished school for Christmas. I only had one five year old, but had a demanding FT job and was handling the house sale and packing into the bargain, and DH was only able to fly in twice before we all left. .

I don’t think I did anything differently other than having grocery shopping delivered, so this is really just to say you’ll manage, and good luck!

You lot are amazing thank you!

we can't afford it sadly but it's a good thought!