Are We There Yet?

When my two were little, being a single parent was physically exhausting. One would be talking and on the go constantly whilst the other was crawling in every opposite direction possible. As well as the probably 100 miles a day walking around and over toys there was the washing and drying the 6 million items of clothing. I think that’s where my loathing for pegging out any item smaller than my hand started. I still, to do this day, hyperventilate when pegging out socks. It all comes back to haunt me. That though, was only the half of it.  There was all the countless other things like making vegetables exciting, grocery shopping, play dates, duck feeding at the pond…and again…and again. The moment they went to their dads I would collapse on the spot.

It wasn’t so much mentally exhausting as the furthest my brain stretched was what colour van post man pat had. When I finally returned to fulltime work it was absolute heaven. Adult conversation, no lego between my toes and i considered it a positive joy to be sitting at a desk all day. The chores, of course didn’t go away they just got sandwiched into the few hours in the evening. But it’s amazing what resources you find in yourself when you need them. Because you have to be more organised, chores get done more logically and quickly. The banning of socks and any other hand sized item of clothing didn’t work though.

Somewhere along the years the physical side has disappeared. My waist and hips can back up this statement rather too well. But mentally we are off the radar. Preparing teenagers for adult hood is something you can never fully prepare yourself for. It’s a daunting task steering them into adult hood making sure they have all the right credentials when I myself is still figuring out the whole ‘I’m an adult’ thing.

The questions teenagers ask have to be answered carefully, they have hormones whizzing around so whatever I reply could be taken well or not so well. I am quickly learning a smile today doesn’t mean the same tomorrow. So now instead of steering them gently through playing nicely, sharing toys and not sticking carrots up their nose, its drugs, sex and alcohol. Though that should read ….the dangers of drugs, safe sex and alcohol awareness. Please don’t think I am having wild parties with my children, far from it.

There is life making and changing decisions like options and careers and advice on is it better to live to work or work to live. How on earth do I sound convincing when half the time I’ve not figured it out myself yet or do we ever actually get there.

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