Papa has been on lots of business trips lately. I cannot say I enjoy them, because it has been rather demanding to look after a toddler and be very much pregnant. Is this complaining? Possibly, but I suppose pregnant women like me are allowed to whine a bit, don’t you think?
Frequent business trips
Moving back to Germany, we knew that the location change would mean an increase in Papa’s business trips. His main office remains in London, his team colleagues are mainly UK-based. We partly chose Bremen to live in because of its convenient airport location and flight schedules for quick business trips, actually. As the company he works for is actually headquartered in North America, there are a few overseas trips a year planned as well. Moreover, with Papa’s career coming along nicely (not complaining about that!), speaking engagements at conferences have increased in frequency as well. All these factors add up though. So much so that Papa was home for maybe half the month in both October and November.
Pregnant and alone with toddler
I am glad Papa’s career is going so well. I know how much it enables our life style, and without his efforts I could not stay home to care for my babies. Lucky draw I found a man who enjoys what he is doing and loves his family at the same time.
Still, it has been difficult to have him gone so much. Now that I am firmly in the third trimester, the pregnancy is starting to take its toll. I cannot sleep very well at night, even if Bubsi sleeps like an angel. The little one is night active and sleeps through the day, but very strong these days so I cannot sleep when the baby kicks. Thus, I am tired before the day even starts. Due to kindergarden, mornings are quite hectic now- we have to be out of the house just after half past eight. And both Bubsi and I hate getting up. I have to be in excellent spirits though or Bubsi won’t budge at all and tantrum at home. Not an option, we want her to like the experience of going to kindergarden. So I force myself to be cheerful and efficient at a time when all I want to do is cuddle up in a roll and catch up on sleep.
Kindergarden adds and relieves pressure simultaneously
Arriving at kindergarden I am faced with the daily dose of separation anxiety, sometimes better, sometimes worse, always emotional. When Bubsi finally plays, I am on a tiny chair in drafty parent corner, or hanging out in the neighborhood to be available for emergencies during the sensitive settling-in phase. This was fine in September, but I tell you it has gotten cold and rainy and is not much fun. My bakery bill has skyrocketed! Picking up Bubsi, making lunch, and all I do is pray she will nap because by that time now I am seriously exhausted from not very much at all. Bubsi, meanwhile, needs me more than ever emotionally of course as kindergarden is so draining for her. She wants to know mom and dad are still there. Good and natural, but without dad I have to be both.
Training for next year?
Sometimes I wonder whether parenting toddlers is a bit much and how on earth single parents do this every day. Because when Papa is home, life is so much easier. When I do get pregnancy exhausted, he can give me a short break. Or a long one, depending on what is needed. I am really glad that his travels for the year are now over and that we can focus on the new baby’s imminent arrival together now. Secretly I cannot help but wonder how I will manage his business trips next year though. Baby and toddler alone at home hahahaha. Maybe this is just a training phase for what is to come!
Do your significant others travel a lot for work?
