https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:28:48 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-needed-solo-parenting#post-2786933 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 16:54:28 +0000 Bluebonnet 2786933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetCaroline: Lots of bees have given you great advice.</p> <p>Have you talked to DH to see what ways he thinks he can help out? Ex - coordinating his parents to babysit LO for a morning (to give you time to batch cook, run errands, etc). Or ordering groceries online and have them delivered (or ready for curbside pickup). Maybe he has special story time (or TV time) with LO for 30 minutes when you get home in the evenings so you can throw dinner together. Maybe he's now in charge of folding clothes.</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-needed-solo-parenting#post-2786916 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 16:04:38 +0000 Mama Bird 2786916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH was incapacitated a lot when DS was 1-2 years old. Nothing serious, but he'd get hit hard by every single day care cold. Like, laid up in bed taking antibiotics and Tylenol. My memories of it all are kind of a blur, but I think there was a lot of letting go of how I think things "should" be. </p> <p>Toddler wants to eat a single cracker for dinner? Fine. Toddler has potty emergency and wants to take the cracker with him? Also fine. (DS didn't try that again after the cracker, naturally, fell into the potty). Toddler wants to flip over his entire box of toys and dig around in them? Awesome, buys me time to do the dishes. Basically, whatever it takes, as long as it isn't unsafe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-needed-solo-parenting#post-2786859 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 13:12:03 +0000 gingerbebe 2786859@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have 2 boys and while DH is very hands on, I do all of the household logistics and meal prep.</p> <p>Generally, I cook meals ahead and reheat. I do a lot of meal prepping in the evenings after the kids are in bed or on the weekends. The way the timing works (when I get home vs. when the kid's get home from daycare), I don't have time to cook a meal. It has to be reheated. </p> <p>Generally we do:</p> <p>Pasta (plus leftovers for one night or a weekend lunch)<br /> A hearty soup (plus leftovers one night or a weekend lunch)<br /> Curry or stirfry over rice (plus leftovers one night or for a weekend lunch)<br /> Pizza night (using a storebought crust) with salad<br /> Eat out one night<br /> Taco night</p> <p>Pasta I boil a whole box, rinse with cold water, and toss in olive oil and keep in the fridge. I also usually always have cooked rice on hand.</p> <p>My entrees are usually some kind of saucy protein/veg situation I can throw on a starch. Like I usually make doubles of meat sauce and freeze half, or I use jarred sauce with frozen meatballs. Same with chili - make double, freeze half, and I often remix it into chili mac another night with pasta. I make a chunky soup with veggies and meat and then throw in pasta or rice. I make Thai, Indian, and Japanese curries and throw on rice. I make stirfries and throw on rice. I make hamburger stroganoff and put on pasta. Its a theme!</p> <p>I make shredded taco chicken in the Instant Pot or crockpot (1lb chicken breast, 1 cup of salsa or enchilada sauce, 1/2 block of cream cheese if you want it creamy, beans, and frozen corn) and dump that on tortillas or my boys often eat bowls of the mix over Spanish rice with lettuce and dip it up with chips. </p> <p>Veggies are easy ones - baby carrots and baby Persian cucumbers. Fruit is easy serve kind - clementines, grapes, bananas, berries. </p> <p>Once a week, we go out to eat and its often the McDonald's with the PlayPlace in our town. They eat their Happy Meals, run around, and then get the free little kid's sample cone as a treat. </p> <p>Its dark and wet out, so they can't play outside after school anyway, so we generally eat and then the kids get a little desserty/snack thing and watch Peppa Pig or something for about 30 minutes before bath time. During that time, one of them usually wants a book read to them, so we just have family couch time for about 30 minutes. Then the kids have a bath and we've instituted family rough-housing time on our master bed. That might be something DH could do for your daughter. Its a lot of tickle fights and jumping and pouncing and climbing up and down the bed. We do it for about 20-30 minutes before bed and the kids are usually winded afterwards. Then we just snuggle and wind down for about 10 minutes, then DS2 (18 months) is ready to crash and DS1 wants book time for another 30 mins with his father.</p> <p>I would say accept help in the form of sending your child on dates with her grand parents to a kid's cafe or indoor play zone on the weekends so you can prep for the week. Or ask them to go bring dinner over once a week. </p> <p>When my DH had a similar health situation (granted it was before kids), we kept a mini fridge stocked with water and drinks and snacks for him within reach of his "spot" which was a recliner we bought for him to rest on. I ended up using the same setup as my nursing station with both kids later! My husband liked having the shower heads that were handheld and he'd bathe himself while sitting in a bath chair. </p> <p>Maybe you can buy your daughter a doctor dress up kit and have her play with her dad as the patient. Tea parties. Playdoh. Magnatiles. Dressing up in general. Musical instrument toys where they can bang and sing loudly together. </p> <p>We also play "fetch" with our kids where we huck tennis balls or beach balls around the house and they go running after it and retrieve it. Gives them some exercise that way! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-needed-solo-parenting#post-2786853 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 12:45:46 +0000 macintosh 2786853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh man, Hellobee at my post :bummed: </p> <p>I have some experience with this. DH uses a wheelchair and I have a 2.5 year old DS who is VERY active.</p> <p>I'm responsible for all meals, dressing, bathing, and transportation for both of them. DH is responsible for supervising solo play time while I get ready, do chores, or cook. He can participate in reading, playdoh, puzzles, coloring, and TV time. We do bedtime together.</p> <p>I keep meals simple and routine and we go out to eat a couple times a week as a treat. They are both able (an usually willing) to put their dishes in the sink when finished eating.</p> <p>For the sake of Dad's mobility, DS is not allowed to spread his toys out on the floor. He's finally pretty good at picking up after himself.</p> <p>I do a lot of solo activities with DS on the weekends, since is doesn't always make sense for DH to tag along to the playground or music class. DS loves it that daddy is always there waiting for him to get home. I still nap when DS naps on Sat and Sun. I also take him grocery shopping, but some days I wish I hadn't :silly: </p> <p>Once you find a routine that works, stick to it. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-needed-solo-parenting#post-2786802 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 10:03:22 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2786802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Make and freeze Sundays are my life saver. I'll make a giant vat of chicken soup on a Sunday when LO2 naps and I'll have LO1 help me. It's enough to feed us for the week and also throw a bunch in the freezer. If you can sit DH at the kitchen table, have him chop all of the veggies for you while you prep everything else. </p> <p>Crock pots are your friends. Throw a roast or some chicken breasts in with some onion soup mix or cream of mushroom soup and let it cook all day. </p> <p>There are some great one pan meals on pinterest too. I like to stick some chicken breasts in the middle...season to your liking, asparagus/chopped zucchini/broccoli on one side and then sliced or fingerling potatoes on the other. Again...season as you'd like (my favorite herbs right now are thyme and rosemary), throw it in the oven at 400 for 20 min and you have meals for the week. You can do the same with a giant sirloin steak and whatever veggies tickle your fancy. </p> <p>If you're thinking lunches, bake some chicken on a Sunday and shred. Mix with greek yogurt, red grapes, celery, onion, craisins, walnuts, salt, and pepper and you have chicken salad to put inside of lettuce for lettuce wraps. Buy butter lettuce for the best lettuce wraps. And again, put DH to work. Just because he's non-weight bearing doesn't mean you can't set him up to do some of the things that take time to prepare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-needed-solo-parenting#post-2786778 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 08:10:39 +0000 Ajsmommy 2786778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I solo parent the majority of the week. We meal prep on sunday so I don't have to during the week. We precook as much as possible and also plan a crock pot meal for the middle of the week which gives us left overs. </p> <p>It was too much for me in the beginning (after we had lo2) so we had to reevaluate and this has helped immensely. Some nights are still crazy but I do think it gets easier as you go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-needed-solo-parenting#post-2786776 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 07:59:28 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2786776@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I solo parent M-F, When DH was traveling by car on Monday he would do DS's hair before daycare. (1) one thing your DH can do with your LO. My LO loves to read stories. (2) another thing they can do together- stories, puzzles. Anything where having a seat is ok and your LO can bring the activities to him.</p> <p>During the week meal prep is minimal. On Monday my dinner was grocery store rotisserie chicken and bagged salad mix. For LO I gave him drained canned chicken noodle soup, peas, and mandarin oranges. If I had to consider DH I would probably make spaghetti that could last at least two nights. </p> <p>If I ask my dad to come over mid-week I am very clear what kind of help I need, but typically it's better if he doesn't come over midweek since bedtime becomes a mess and he wants more mealtime effort. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/advice-needed-solo-parenting#post-2786775 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 07:38:20 +0000 SweetCaroline 2786775@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH was injured and is non-weight bearing for a few months. I have a 2-1/2 year old and I work FT out of the house. DD goes to daycare. We are managing but it definitely isn't easy. I feel like a schmuck because this is normal for many families but it is taking us time to adapt.</p> <p>What are your tips for surviving? Ideas re:stupid simple meals, tips for an adult with a walker, activities DD can do with DH on the couch (previously they were VERY active together outside), self-care, boundaries with in-laws that think they are being helpful, anything...I need it! </p>