Top tips for being a single mum - albeit temporarily

[mrsflux]

Dh is off to the states for work leaving me and 14mo ds home alone.
I am very lucky that he's not had to go away for long before but am not looking forward to the next 2 weeks.

What are your top tips for surviving on your own?
I'm not sure I'll get anything done in the day and will have to catch up at night. Also I might go mad!

ps I have the upmost respect for any single mums out there. Don't know how you manage but would like your pearls of wisdom!

My husband is away on business a lot, I have a 2.5 DS, work full time and am 8 1/2 month pregnant. He just got back from a trip and I must admit I find it was tough going (the pot trainning that we started before DH went away was still going, my energy level dropped the minute he got on the plane, DH got sick and my boss decided to push me more as he "remembered that I will be going on Mat. leave soon! .

I agree with the other's comments about lowering your expectations and would advise you to be very gentle on yourself. Go out for a coffee, get some fresh air, meet friends, flick through a magazine while the little one is playing nicely, anything that gives you a 5 minute mini break several times during the day. I also cut the day in small chunks, of say 1/2 or 1 hour. Then when I get through that chunk of time I feel good about myself.

But I still get so frazzled and sometimes have a go at DH for leaving me alone. And I also use the expression of being momentarily a single mother but I don't mean any disrespect to all the single mothers out there. On the contrary, I admire the women who cope alone and do an amazing job in very tough circumstances. My inability to cope very well alone for a few weeks at time shows me the strength needed to do it alone in the long term and I am in awe of those who do it. But being a mother is that: when it comes to the crunch most of us just get on with it and find the strength somehow. We have to and we just do it, all the time all over the world. OP, I can't tell you it will easy, it will definitely not be fun at times but you will be able to do it, and will survive to tell the tale. And that is what makes us mums special, we sometimes are superwomen! .

Op- I havn't taken offense. I feel proud that I can cope with what others percieve to be daunting so allow me to be a little bit smug!
You will get a real confidence boost from coping alone and you will realise that you can handle anything. Get out to groupsn as much as possible, go swimming and/or see friends. You will be fine!