We Miss You Daddy!

I think my single mothering skills are improving. Here's a picture I took of the kids a year and a half ago when Jeff was gone for a week:And here's the one I took today:They look much happier now, eh? I think I just got a lucky moment. Notice Charlie's Red Sox hat.....he was thrilled to wear it, and I was thrilled he would because he looked like an absolute Greece monkey today.....I poured a ton of baby oil in his hair last night to get out the cradle cap and I can't get it to wash out....any tips?

So I'm halfway through my stint as a single mother. Only half way? Man, this is a long time. It's making me realize two things:

1. Jeff is a saint. I can't believe how much it helps to have him around. I know I've been taking for granted all his help for a long time and I'm repenting now. I've noticed how much different the kids are when they don't have Jeff's around. I can tell they miss the steadiness of him. He's constant and always kind and stern and fun and everything a model father should be. And I miss all the support he gave me (funny, I was just complaining to him before he left that he needed to be more supportive....oops! I guess I was taking that for granted too.)

2. I have an incredible network of friends and family that make this not only doable, but actually enjoyable. I've had friends call in to find out how I'm doing, offer to babysit so i can take a night off, offer to bring me food, come over and visit with me for hours to help me feel sane again....the list really goes on and on. And to top it all off, my dear In-Laws sent me breathtaking flowers today....what a great surprise, really brightened a pretty tough day (see pictures below).

I realize how lucky I am to have both these things more than ever because the women I work with have quite the opposite. One of the mom's I've been visiting recently has told me that she has two friends in the whole world, her family is far away in El Salvador and the father of the baby took off as soon as he found out she was pregnant. Now she's home in the projects with little food and a newborn baby whose supposed to solve all her problems. Heartbreaking.