So I have taken a new strategy to this exciting endeavor. First- since Danmo doesn't seem to get or be able to handle a work in progress- I am able to work on things and then pick them up when I am free again. This significantly reduces my stress level. So far this week I have redone the home office. I bought new rugs, changed the furniture around and had my new treadmill delivered. I know that with the increased stress of balancing home management and motherhood I am going to need all the endorphins I can get and all the energy I can get. We suspended our Y membership for the time Danmo is at school and that in itself pays for most of the treadmill expense.
My biggest surprise since Danmo has been gone? That I need a clean house to be happy- its not just him!
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Sunday, August 01, 2010
A New Adventure
With Danmo away at school, now I begin the adventure of single motherhood- sort of. I do not have the worry about going out to get a job to support my family. I do have the worries of its all on me. Worries of how to balance it all and keep all the balls in the air. I am saddest for me thinking of him not being here at the end of his work day to share our thoughts and experiences that have happened. We struggle to get much done in the evenings when he is home- we just enjoy being together and time flies.
I came back home yesterday after being down range with him setting up his apartment. The trip down there was an adventure for both of us. Danmo drove and I flew. He got there in the afternoon and my flight was scheduled to land a few hours later. He calls while I am in the airport to tell me his cooling system in his car has quit. No A/C and now the car is doing that thing where the temperature needle on the dash is going into the HOT zone. We decide right there for me to get a rental car at the airport. I try to get one while getting on my flight- but I do not have enough time to arrange one. My flight was mostly normal until I reached my destination. We had to keep circling around the airport because there were thunderstorms. Then we had to be diverted to another nearby airport so we could get fuel. While refueling I quickly reserve my rental car- whew! We finally land in our right airport and I get my rental car- 3 hours later than I should have landed. The drive to his apartment is 1.5 hours. I finally get there near midnight. I stopped at Walmart on the way to get a trash can, shower curtain, rings, and liner. Danmo had told me how he washed up but couldn't really shower without a shower curtain, so I surprised him with a few housewarming gifts.
We really had to do a lot of shopping for him! Tuesday and Wednesday we shopped like crazy- even I was tired of shopping at that point! Thursday we spent the whole day putting things together. Dinner most night was late like 8 pm. This was a blessing in so many ways because we were able to just have a snack and push through with our work and get so much more done than if we had to stop at "normal" dinner times. Friday we worked all the way up until midnight- when my body started shutting down - I needed sleep.
These days together were filled with a lot of hard work and joy. The workout clothes I brought with me were never used- there was no spare moment- we did take teh stairs a lot as a form of exercise- the 7th floor- whew! It really required us to be loving and patient with each other. We had to do a lot of scouting around to find stores, restaurants and we found a wonderful Mass there- its only a 2 minute drive from Danmo's apartment. What a blessing to find such a wonderful parish deep in the heart of Dixie!
In many ways this trip was like a second honeymoon. No children with us- though we did miss them desperately. No children with us, just us- alone enjoying being together. We had so much work to do to make his apartment a livable space, but we worked together side by side and got it all done. There were times when we didn't even talk- we just listened to music while we worked toward this common goal- who knew a filing cabinet had so many freaking parts?
Saturday morning came too soon. I was heartsick to leave my other half behind- until I turned on the highway to the airport- then I was heartsick to get home to my sweet little blessings. I was greeted at home from the most awesome squeals, hugs and kisses. Stella laughed and laughed and kept hugging me- she couldn't believe I was here. Oh what a joy it is to be home with them- it makes my heart happy. I admit to a very heavy part of my heart- the part left in the south. I can't wait until he is home again and we are reunited as a whole family. God bless the single parents out there- I don't know how they do it all alone, except for the grace from God.
Dear Lord, grant me grace to excel in this endeavor.
I came back home yesterday after being down range with him setting up his apartment. The trip down there was an adventure for both of us. Danmo drove and I flew. He got there in the afternoon and my flight was scheduled to land a few hours later. He calls while I am in the airport to tell me his cooling system in his car has quit. No A/C and now the car is doing that thing where the temperature needle on the dash is going into the HOT zone. We decide right there for me to get a rental car at the airport. I try to get one while getting on my flight- but I do not have enough time to arrange one. My flight was mostly normal until I reached my destination. We had to keep circling around the airport because there were thunderstorms. Then we had to be diverted to another nearby airport so we could get fuel. While refueling I quickly reserve my rental car- whew! We finally land in our right airport and I get my rental car- 3 hours later than I should have landed. The drive to his apartment is 1.5 hours. I finally get there near midnight. I stopped at Walmart on the way to get a trash can, shower curtain, rings, and liner. Danmo had told me how he washed up but couldn't really shower without a shower curtain, so I surprised him with a few housewarming gifts.
We really had to do a lot of shopping for him! Tuesday and Wednesday we shopped like crazy- even I was tired of shopping at that point! Thursday we spent the whole day putting things together. Dinner most night was late like 8 pm. This was a blessing in so many ways because we were able to just have a snack and push through with our work and get so much more done than if we had to stop at "normal" dinner times. Friday we worked all the way up until midnight- when my body started shutting down - I needed sleep.
These days together were filled with a lot of hard work and joy. The workout clothes I brought with me were never used- there was no spare moment- we did take teh stairs a lot as a form of exercise- the 7th floor- whew! It really required us to be loving and patient with each other. We had to do a lot of scouting around to find stores, restaurants and we found a wonderful Mass there- its only a 2 minute drive from Danmo's apartment. What a blessing to find such a wonderful parish deep in the heart of Dixie!
In many ways this trip was like a second honeymoon. No children with us- though we did miss them desperately. No children with us, just us- alone enjoying being together. We had so much work to do to make his apartment a livable space, but we worked together side by side and got it all done. There were times when we didn't even talk- we just listened to music while we worked toward this common goal- who knew a filing cabinet had so many freaking parts?
Saturday morning came too soon. I was heartsick to leave my other half behind- until I turned on the highway to the airport- then I was heartsick to get home to my sweet little blessings. I was greeted at home from the most awesome squeals, hugs and kisses. Stella laughed and laughed and kept hugging me- she couldn't believe I was here. Oh what a joy it is to be home with them- it makes my heart happy. I admit to a very heavy part of my heart- the part left in the south. I can't wait until he is home again and we are reunited as a whole family. God bless the single parents out there- I don't know how they do it all alone, except for the grace from God.
Dear Lord, grant me grace to excel in this endeavor.
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