A Weekend in the Life of a Single/Married Woman
Oct 15 '00
Well, I must admit it was a great weekend! My son’s 9th birthday was on Friday, and we had a nice dinner out at a restaurant instead of Mom (me!) having to cook! Sort of seemed like a birthday present for me, but what the heck! That’s what the boy wanted! (Do you think he’s trying to tell me he doesn’t like my cooking? Nah!)
On Saturday we had his birthday party with his friends. My husband took the boys to see a movie and then it was out for pizza, where I of course joined them with my daughters! What woman is going to pass up not having to cook two days in a row! They all came back to the house afterwards and played with all the presents my son received. A great time was had by all! (On a side note, if the boys that were here this weekend are any indication of what all children are like, we have nothing to worry about in the future!)
Today, Sunday, my husband and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary. And for the first time ever, he was actually here to partake in the celebration! Not only that, but this was the first time he was here for our son’s birthday as well! Now, a lot of you are probably wondering “what kind of man never shows up for his kid’s birthdays or his wedding anniversary?” Well, here’s your answer. My husband is a long distance truck driver.
My husband is away from home 90% of the time. He is rarely here for birthdays, anniversaries, school concerts, or doctor’s appointments. When the kids are sick he isn’t here to try to make them feel better. When I have to get the kids to two different places at the same time it’s my brother who helps me out. If I’m sick, that’s too bad. There’s no one here I can whine to…which is probably a good thing anyway. It’s a life of long distance phone calls and hugs by proxy. When the kids go to bed it’s not couple time for us, it’s alone time for me.
I’m the one who pays the bills, wipes the noses, does the shopping, cooks the dinners, gives the baths, makes the lunches. I’m also the one who sees the first steps, gets the hugs, hears the songs, and does the dances. I’m the one who has the best parts of being a parent, and I wish I could share it with my husband. It does tend to lose something in the translation when on a long distance phone call. He really wishes he could be here for those moments, but driving is what he knows, and what he does well.
I don’t feel sorry for myself. (Well, sometimes I do!) It’s a choice I made when I married my husband. I knew what I was in for and decided that he was worth the sacrifice. I was right, although sometimes that’s easy to forget. My fortieth birthday plans cancelled because he was stuck in a snowstorm comes to mind as a time that was very easy to forget! I love my husband very much and I believe that his being away so much makes his time at home that much sweeter. I just wish he could be home for the birthdays, holidays, and the days that I really, really need to sleep in!
I guess the lesson I've learned from all of this is that we really all should learn to cherish our time spent with loved ones and friends even more. We should never take each other for granted, and we should be very grateful for the time that we do have together. I know I am.
And now I’m back to my single life, my dear husband left just after dinner today. Ah , well, it was good while it lasted!
UPDATE:
To update anyone who has read my opinion, A Gift to the Man Who Has Everything, my husband read it this morning, and was quite choked up by it. There were sniffles and the sound of a throat being cleared a few times. He was quite relieved when he realized that I knew that his inability to give us everything has been bothering him lately, and that it didn’t matter to me. Although why he didn’t know that already I’ll never understand! I have told him often enough! I guess he just needed to see it in print!
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Member: Beverley
Location: Canada
Reviews written: 290
Trusted by: 419 members
About Me:
So good to be home, but so very tired!
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