The Joy of
Six by Mr Mum
I am a self
employed recently separated 41 year old Australian male with six children
between 5 and 15. I have a shared care arrangement with my ex-wife which means
that I have all six at home with me at least three nights a week, at least two
with me on some nights, and anything in between.
So I am a Mr
Mum to six children. Sometimes part time, sometimes full time, sometimes in
overtime…often in overload. I guess that makes me a little unusual. Just
having six kids is enough to make me unusual. Weird, probably.
Fortunately
I run my own business from home, so I have the flexibility to adjust work to
meet their needs.
I didn’t
opt for the “every second weekend access” option. I couldn’t stand being
away from my kids. Scared the crap out of me, actually…the thought of them
growing up without me…them learning to do without me. So they are with me part
time. Not as good as full time, but it was the best I could get.
I’m not
going to preach about marriage and relationships and breakups, or whinge about
the opposite sex. I don’t know enough about any of them to be offering advice.
But perhaps
I can help some dads (and mums?) with some practical thoughts and suggestions
about how to take the scary stuff out of looking after kids by yourself.
Firstly, I
have to admit that I have wonderful children. I have seen children who by
themselves are more trouble than my six put together. I love them all dearly,
and would have them with me seven days a week for the rest of my life if I
could.
Wanting to
care for them is easy…doing it is difficult sometimes, and fun sometimes, and
enriching, and humiliating…and can also be frustrating and heart wrenching. I
have cried more in the six months since our separation that in the 40 years
before that. But some of the tears have been happy…and that makes it all worth
it in the end.
So I hope
some of these little articles may be of some use to you. Perhaps with some
practical advice…perhaps with something funny…perhaps just comforting in the
knowledge that you are not the only one stumbling and struggling through single
parenthood.
Good luck
Mr Mum
email Mr.
Mum at MrMum@mumsweb.com
Articles
by Mr. Mum:
Best
birthday ever
Boys,
toilets and bullseyes
Mysteries
and magic of gravy
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