We've gone to the dogs

Clint is away and, as you can see, I have lost complete control over the household.

And ... that's a wrap on 2009

I took a look back at my last blog post of 2008. Last year was by far the hardest year I’ve ever encountered and I was certain 2009 had to be better. In many ways it was, yet the challenges have remained. My great challenge has come in the final months when Clint accepted a work assignment in Africa. He left at the beginning of November for the yearlong assignment with only one visit home near the halfway point.

We didn’t make this decision lightly. We knew the extra pay he would receive would help us recover from the financial strain of my job loss in 2008. We knew it wouldn’t be easy. Clint would be living on a Navy base in Djibouti, Africa: his small room a converted shipping container; his workweek six or seven days long. It wouldn’t be a picnic.

I would be at home, essentially a single parent responsible for the household, a toddler and my own work.

The last seven weeks have been extremely difficult, and I have a renewed appreciation for single parents as well as those whose spouses are in the military or otherwise working away from home. I’m grateful for friends who have stepped in to help as it’s extra tough when you don’t have any family nearby.

I admit I’m not looking forward to 2010. It will be struggle and I miss my husband dearly. Yet, we’re trying to think long term, making a sacrifice now that we hope will pay off in the long run.

Parenting

Some random thoughts on parenting:

* Could there ever be a situation in life that is filled with more ups and downs? Literally, an "up" moment and 60 seconds later a "down" moment.
* I find things I truly enjoyed before I became a parent now are no longer fun and take too much energy (and I have so little to spare).
* Having Clint working in Africa right now gives me a new appreciation for single parents. How do they maintain a shred of sanity?