Lord Love the Single ’Rent

Since Sunday at 5:15 a.m. I have been on a “single” mommy mission: To survive 4 days with the babe sans Daddy back up. Can you say Anxiety Attack???? (Yes, this is the first time I’ve had the baby ALL TO MYSELF for an extended period of time.)

Though I told Chris it was fine for him to go off “gallivanting” across the palm-tree infused stretch of the southeastern coast, I was secretly terrified leading up to the actual good-bye.

What if Coop came down with some heinously scary infection that made his eyes bug out and skin turn into a blotch fest and I had to rush him to the ER? What if an intruder broke in and I couldn’t find my flame-thrower (aka candle lighter) and can of aerosol hairspray in time to keep him from getting his grubby paws on the “good” TV? What if the house caught fire? My car broke down? I couldn’t sleep without Chris’ freight train snoring? The sun refused to shine?

What if I realized I couldn’t handle motherhood on my own?

Paranoid delusions or very real possibilities? Maybe — probably — a little of both.

Chris is coming home tonight and if it were possible for me to add sound effects to this entry, I would have the horns trumpeting my victory! Four days and Cooper did not contract anything more than a tummy ache. The intruders thought better than to mess with a “single” mom. The house did not catch fire (just the wafting scent of burned plastic from a baby bottle cap getting trapped and melting in the bottom part of the dishwasher). My jeep is still in proper working order, and after trying three different car places I finally found one that does inspections, which means “BJ” is all legal and registered and who-hoo, good to go for another year. I kept the TV on throughout the night to trick my mind into thinking Chris was with me since he always stays up late watching it (and no, I didn’t miss the snoring). The sun did shine all bright and happy and brought with it a fair-weather friend: fall temperatures — yay!

And I realized that yes, I can handle motherhood on my own … for a minute… as long as I get to bed by 8.

But I certainly wouldn’t ever want to. Diaper duty is waaaaay more fun when shared with a big bald guy who makes your child squeal with laughter and still makes your heart skip a beat even after years of hearing him belch. =)

My sincerest admiration goes out to all of the single mommies and daddies out there. May the sun always shine in your corner of the world.

-smell you later-
Coop’s Mom (aka Tessa)