Day 7 of Being a Single Dad

[pinkroses89]

I'm exhausted ! I've recently was granted full time custody of my children and my life was flipped upside down. I have two young boys full of energy(my oldest ),balancing work, childcare, cleaning, cooking, sleep, has been a marathon. Im surviving off of triple espresso TID or Q4hrs PRN(for all fellow nurses ). I'm grateful I have family to help me out especially on my work days. I got give it to all you single moms out there doing it on your own. I give you guys the upmost respect. Y'all the real MVPs!

 

[greglovee]

@pinkroses89 Keep it up! You sound like you have a great attitude and are going to do great!!

 

[sbachman]

@pinkroses89 It’s tough. Mine are 12 and they definitely help around the house. “You doing these chores means I have time to take you to the park, etc… “

You’ll get your rhythm.

 

[pinkroses89]

@sbachman Right! I have little ones 5 and 3 I'm trying to teach them the little things lol to make it a little easier

 

[panja]

@pinkroses89 Rhythm and routine. You got this. Ask for help when you can and take some time for you.

 

[steve11987]

@pinkroses89 Thank you! And so are you! You’re doing great. It gets better. I mean…thats a lie but its a lie we all need to hear lol

 

[jqqj]

@pinkroses89 It gets easier bro ! First few months was a killer for me. A year has past and I’m here killing this single dad game !

You got this !!

 

[qwertyremembers]

@pinkroses89 You got this. It gets easier, you get a rhythm and then they become teenagers and then you have to readjust all over.
Oops, I wasn’t supposed to go there. But it’s true, I’m at the stinky teenager years. I miss when I thought it was hard.

Best!

 

[adilene]

@qwertyremembers Lol! Same! I was so comfy in my conquered routine that I didn’t realize we had to readjust for the teen years! Shit!

 

[qwertyremembers]

@adilene Omg, right. Throw the whole kid away. Lol.

 

[godgathering]

@pinkroses89 It’s always tough until you find a routine and then it’s second nature. You’ll get there and it will get easier! Definitely let your ‘village’ help you. I am a nurse as well and in the early days I needed a lot of help due to my schedule.

 

[nomadictheist]

@godgathering Agree, that groove you get into is everything! Damn anyone who messes with that delicate ecosystem once it’s been established. Haha

 

[jkibuti]

@pinkroses89 Plan ahead my friend. Your three best friends right now are the washer/dryer, the dishwasher and the microwave oven.

Meal prep helps a lot. Cook an extra couple of portions of meals and freeze them to be microwaved later. Your kids will be guaranteed a hot homecooked meal even on the days when dad just needs to decompress after work.

Keep on top of the laundry cycle. Try and make sure your kids have at least two clean changes of clothes for every occasion, nightwear, outdoors (hot), outdoors (rainy) etc.

If your 5 year old is at school, consider moving as close to that school as possible. I moved to across the street from my sons elementary and it's been a *huge* timesaving. On a couple of occasions we've slept thru the alarms and woken up at 8:30, but bambino's been washed, dressed, fed and (thanks to food flasks) takes a hot homecooked meal to lunch all in the space of 20 minutes.

Plan ahead, be prepared to make some life changing choices.

 

[electrochemist]

@pinkroses89 I will be downvoted, but what I care. Guy, women have been doing this for a thousand years, nobody EVER gives a fuck if they are struggling, so just do what I and millions other women have been doing with no kind words, sometimes I was even judged, go on and do chores and jobs and be nice to kids

 

[brainstormer]

@electrochemist He just gave single mamas props. All of us need some encouragement now and then

 

[jesusdove]

@pinkroses89 …I find peace when I am in the shower!!

Take it hour by hour. Be patient with yourself. It goes by fast
Keep posting

 

[vincent101]

@jesusdove Instructions unclear, water bill is very high now and I'm pruny.

 

[archimedus]

@pinkroses89 I only have 8 more years to go!

 

[dorian37grey]

@pinkroses89 I'm going on 2 years. I wish I could say it gets easier, but it just gets different. I love having my children full time, but sometimes I wonder how I can sustain it.

My kids are 8, 5, 3, and 1. They're more than full of energy, they're overflowing with it. Oldest has ADHD and I'm sure my 3 year old does as well. Not sure on thr 5 year old and 1 year old is too young.

I'm a nurse as well and oh goodness it was HARD finding childcare that will work with my schedule. I'm soloing this with minimal support. Work days are awful. Getting the kids up, out the door, trying to not forget my meds and my oldest's. I almost always forget something and I just hope when I do it isn't something super important.

You got this!!

 

[wistfulangel]

@pinkroses89 Lmao I’m on year 7. Im also a dad lol and one thing I can tell you (probably heard it already) but it does get easier. My first year was learning how to care for my little one physically. The next year was financially! After those two are satisfied everything else just became routine! The hardest part is the mental aspect on my behalf. But even that is filled by the routine of work, dinner bed and repeat. Add a few fun days when in between( Park, movies, etc) and keep it moving. Lol it’s tough, and it sucks, but I can tell you one benefit is me and my sons relationship is probably the most rewarding and complex relationship I’ve ever had!! I tend to turn to this when times get a little rougher than normal. Also, tbh, if it wasn’t for me finding a decent job that I’ve stayed at 5 yrs, this probably would have been a little harder. It’s tough but it’s possible. And even rewarding at the same time. Even tho I’ll prob be broke for the next 21 years lmao