The hubby and I decided that the only way I’d manage both kids while he was gone was if I had an extra set of hands in the evenings so that I could do the mad dinner/bath/bedtime dash and not lose my already-scattered mind.  To that end, I spent two weeks trying to find a babysitter to help us out. After the jump, I also have some survival tips for solo parenting that I figured out along the way.

Then, at the last minute, my mom — the kids’ “puo puo” — came to the rescue.  She volunteered to stay with us, and oh Nelly, did we ever breathe a huge sigh of relief.  The week went as smoothly as it could have possibly gone, and by the time the hubby returned, the house was still standing, no animals had been harmed, and everyone still had their limbs and sanity intact.

The kids, of course, were thrilled with the hubby’s return, and immediately demanded we make a pile of family on our bed.

We were only too happy to oblige.

Survival Tips for Solo Parenting

Ask for help!  In the absence of nearby family members who can pitch in, websites such as SitterCity.com and Care.com allow you to post your job requirements, and both sites provide background checks and references for applicants.

Accept the inevitable.  Laundry stays in unfolded piles, papers are scattered, and bills will have to wait.  I used to stress about it, but now, it’s the least of my concerns.  As long as the kids are bathed, cleaned and fed, the rest can wait until later.

Communicate, communicate.  FaceTime and Skype are great ways to give kids interaction with their traveling parent.  We tried every night to give the kids at least a few minutes of “daddy time,” even if it meant tears when it was time to end the call.

Do something special.  The Gravy Baby loves playing with his water table, and so, weather permitting, he got to play with it every single day while the hubby was gone (usually it’s reserved for weekends and special occasions).  Fun distractions made our week fly by.

Use your slow cooker.  I cannot tell you how many times I seared a hunk of meat into my slow cooker, made a salad or some side vegetables, and called it a day.  For some of my favorite slow cooker recipes, check my Pinterest board here.