The Drop Off.

My rib cage feels like it's lined with stones and I feel like I could break down and cry in this parking lot. I've had little feet and laughter filling my house for two weeks straight but now it's time to drop off my littlest nugget and become officially kidless for the weekend. Some people might be rolling their eyes like, "OMG it's only a few days bitch, get over it!" I'm just not that mom-I miss them and love them so much it fucking hurts when they're away from me.

I have two boys, 6, and 12 years old but when they're gone for a weekend with their dads, it never gets easier, I think I've just gotten better at coping, and hopefully this probably shitty advice I'm about to drop can help some other single mom or dad out there, too.

1.) Have something to look forward to.

I put this as number one for a reason- being excited about something else totally unrelated to your babies is essential. Make some plans! Start a text string with your friends to go out, link up with a trusted coworker, download a dating app and schedule a date, book an Airbnb for a night, whatever it is just get something scheduled! Having a time and place I need to be and that feeling of excitement keeps me from going to that sad place. Life is fucking short and you deserve that cocktail, honey.

2.) Self Care.

This sounds so fucking cliche' but it's true. One of my old principals, (I'm a teacher BTW), told us a short story about how his husband asked him what did he do for himself that day? Our principal had picked all of these flowers to decorate our staff meeting for everyone else but he forgot to cut some for himself. So, what are you doing for just you?

Here are some of the things I do, that are also affordable: get my eyebrows tinted or if you want to splurge a little more, get them laminated, (ULTA does them for around $100), go to Half Price Books and buy books that only you are interested in reading-not for your kids! Take a walk or go for a hike with the sole intention of doing it for yourself. Climb that mountain or hill that you know your kids would bitch and complain about while climbing! Get a pedicure; this one is obvious but it feels so damn good. Turn up that back massage chair on high kneed and fall asleep. Some salons offer cocktails so order one as soon as your sexy ass sits down.

https://a.co/d/euEs2XT <-- I use this eyebrow tint kit at home, it's easy and only $7.99!

3.) Rated R Binge Watch.

Have you been dying to watch a show but were too worried about watching it around your kids? Grab your best blanket, all of the snacks your kids steal, close the blinds, and pop on that series. Now you can watch it without little ears listening and then going to school or the other parents house and having them repeat what they saw or heard.

Here are a couple of my go tos:

1.) The Real Housewives, (Salt Lake City is my personal fave), episodes on Peacock.

2.) Euphoria- it's so sexy, raw, and real, (well, except there were no fucking guys that hot in my high school).

3.) Game of Thrones- I've watched this all the way through once already but sometimes I like going back to certain episodes.

4.) Newly Added Movies- there's always new things coming out, this is finally your chance to watch it guilt free.

There are more ideas out there, but these are my go tos. I hope you find your list, too, even if this doesn't work. There's nothing wrong with you if you're upset about your kids leaving or being sad or jealous that they might be around the other parents partner or spouse. These are totally normal feelings but how you choose to handle it is up to you and as parents, we deserve happiness for ourselves. We cannot be the best parents we can be, if we're burnt out and forget who we are. Single parents are fucking warriors but even warriors need to hang up their armor once in awhile and rest.

Have any more ideas? Comment below!

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