TGIF

My apologies for the acronym as a title, but today that sums it up fairly well. Please note that I have used the more family friendly G instead of the F that is often substituted (no need to be crass, after all).

And yes, even for a stay at home Mum, Friday is eagerly anticipated. I may not be going out dancing, or drinking my weight in gin martinis (much) but for me Friday signals the "handing over of the child". Yep, for the duration of the weekend I am off the clock. No dirty nappies, no feeding, play only if and when I feel like it, cuddles only when the baby is happy - I think you get the picture.

If I'm lucky this weekend freedom will include a meal out with a friend, but most often I take pleasure in being able to do the things that having a baby around will sometimes prevent and/or make more difficult, such as:

Paying more attention to my personal hygiene (aka shampooing my hair and moisturising as WELL as having a shower).
Doing all of my outstanding household cleaning (and by Saturday morning there is usually a LOT).
Getting any extra laundry done, including all of my husband's (he's not allowed in my laundry).
Sleeping in until 9AM!
And so on.

I do remember those halcyon days (before baby) where Friday meant a long 'work lunch' followed by office drinks, maybe dinner with friends - or just dinner out with my husband (except back then he was my boyfriend!). Good times. These days the relief of Friday feels so much more profound. There is only so much peek-a-boo babbling nonsense I am able to sustain before I start looking longingly for an emergency exit. My husband is also more relaxed on a Friday. We both seem to know that the balance has now shifted, and while he will be doing all of the baby chores, he also realises it's time to divert Mummy with some intelligent adult conversation - bless him!

In short (and I know this is a shorter post than normal, but I believe I have gotten my point across) even though I have not technically been "at work" during the week, I still look forward to the weekend as my "time off". I have not found being a stay at home Mum easy in any way, and I often think longingly of my office and deadlines and cranky bosses and all of the things my working friends bemoan. Thank goodness I have retained my anticipation of Friday, and the knowledge that Friday signals a lightening of the load sometimes has me wishing it's Friday when it is actually Monday, just like all of my friends dreading their return to the office.

I would like to add a very important footnote - to those Mums out there doing it all on their own - you are HEROES! I honestly do not know how you do it. You should all be regularly lauded and perhaps even included in the Australia Day Honours List tomorrow, just for being single Mums. You are rock stars.