I guess it’s only 7 more years until he can drive…
1. Car trips. I hate driving. I’ve been doing it for so long, going from being one of few friends to have a vehicle, to marrying a guy who didn’t have a driver’s license, to being the only person in the house old enough to have a license. Even once the ex-husband had his license I did most of the driving. Because his driving stressed me out. But still. As I anticipate our October trip to Disneyland, I can’t help but dread being the only one who can take the wheel for nine hours. Why does the plane trip have to be so much more than the gas to drive there?
2. Dinner time. You know. When somehow you forgot to pick up just one simple ingredient but you didn’t notice until you’re already in the middle of making dinner? It would be nice to just let my son stay at the house to play (or work on homework) during that quick trip to the grocery store because there was another responsible adult to leave behind. Or, since driving sucks so much, someone I could turn to and ask, “Can you get it?” That would be nice.
3. Paying bills. I mean, come on. Paying bills is always a little easier when there are two incomes. Or at least someone who might be a better budgeter than me.
4. Homework time. After work and school, we have limited time. Part of it is spent cooking dinner while my son gets his homework done. And it’s hard to help with homework when I’m also trying to get dinner on the table early enough so we still have time for an after dinner walk, or to go play at the park, or to have time for a game of chess or a chapter of Harry Potter. Plus, as he gets older it would be nice to have my opposite. Someone good at the math and science stuff so we can tag-team as I help out with the writing and literature. Might be time for me to pick up some math workbooks to refresh my memory…
5. Parties. Or any event where I don’t know anyone. Or where I know only the host. If I only know the host, I feel like I’m bugging them by hanging around the entire party. And I’m just not very good at the whole approaching strangers and starting conversations. Small talk is one of my nemeses. As is anyone I don’t know.
6. Holiday gift shopping. We’ve worked out a system. It either involves my son hiding things under my coat in the shopping cart until it’s time to check out and asking the cashier to scan and double-bag those things first while I turn my back…or me remembering to go to the bank to get cash and then waiting at the front of the store while he does his shopping. I’m sure I could ask a friend to take him shopping for these holidays…but I can’t help but feel intrusive. If I had a spouse, they might be more obligated.
7. Oil change. Because I put it off forever, much to the chagrin of my father. And once I do get it done, I’m usually stuck taking time off work so I can sit at the shop until it’s done. When your dad owns a car shop, you can’t get away with driving through the Jiffy Lube. It takes a little big longer this way, includes making an appointment, and isn’t available on weekends.
8. Sick days. This one probably bugs me the most. When I wake up sick, I don’t want to move. I want to curl under the covers and stay there until I feel better. Which means I am not about to get out of bed, take my son to school, drive back home and go to sleep. Only to have to get up some hours later to pick him up. So he gets a day off. He usually spends it trying to take care of me, or playing/reading quietly while I rest (isn’t it great when kids get self-sufficient?). But then he ends up missing school. Which, you know, is kind of important.
And then there’s the times when he’s the one that’s sick. I don’t mind staying home and taking care of him, but sometimes it would be nice to have someone to switch off with. Especially if he has diarrhea because the school district policy is 72 hours after the last incidence. Which means a minimum of three days out of work.
. . .
Of course having a co-parent would mean having to take another person’s opinion into consideration when making decisions and that sounds awfully annoying.
