Being a Single Mom is Snow Fun

Dave is gone for a work trip this week (to Switzerland, the lucky bum). So while he's drinking Swiss Miss and eating Swiss cake rolls, I'm holding together the fort. And by holding together I mean recruiting 3/4 of the grandparents to navigate swim lessons last night for AJ with my aunt on backup to visit one evening later this week and pee all over the floor tonight and nearly every one in tears at some point in the past 3 days. 

It's not that bad, really, because the kids are in school and after-school care, which makes life so much easier than when you're with them 24/7. Still, it's hard to juggle things when you're one person, which means I have all the respect in the world for those who are truly single parents. 

The only day that I had the kids all to myself to occupy was Sunday when Dave left at 7 a.m. So I did the only logical thing, which was to pack them up with all their winter gear to spend 4.5 hours in the vehicle for the day. All that driving got us to and back home from my parents' farm where we spent several hours playing in the woods with rides in the Gator and behind the Gator in the Beast. The Beast is my dad's invention that has allowed Teddy to go tubing independently since he was 3.

Some of my fondest winter memories are tubing behind snowmobiles, 4-wheelers or anything that could pull a tube across snow. That's a bit tricky for a child like Teddy who doesn't have the strength, motor skills and comprehension to hold onto a tube or rope and keep his body safely where it needs to be. But the Beast is a masterpiece of a giant tire tube with a smaller tube inserted into it, both securely fastened on top of a piece of plastic that slides across the snow. This combination allows Teddy to be plopped in the middle and safely ride there without an adult on the tube with him. (OK, it's as safe for him as tubing is for any kid.)

 AJ and Teddy riding in the Beast.

So three years ago, when my dad created the Beast, we created our tradition of a winter cookout in the woods, complete with tubing rides. Both kids had so much fun they didn't miss Dave, which is a good thing. Teddy captured my mom repeatedly to make her sit in the Gator with him because he loves any sort of vehicle, and she was his chosen companion (much to my delight). AJ loved tubing the best. 

Teddy kept making my mom sit in the Gator with him.

Me, I love that my parents welcome us with open arms and put forth the effort to make these special memories for the boys.