Everyone knows single parents have a tough job, no matter what
percentage of the time they have their kids. Raising kids is meant to
be a two person job, so whether it's for a few hours, a few days or
all the time, taking care of those kiddos' every waking want, need
and demand can wear anyone out. Occasionally we all have that
especially difficult
week of parenting, where we are ready to throw in the towel on life,
lock ourselves in our room to sleep just for a few hours and pray
that whatever destruction is waiting on us when we emerge, can be
repaired.
Unfortunately, whether due to being a responsible parent, or just
out of fear of the destruction that would surely be waiting for us on
the other side of that door,
this
voluntary confinement is usually just not an option. So rather
than locking ourselves away to recover, we keep going and instead, we
let our friendships and romantic relationships suffer the
consequences of our sleep deprivation. We start questioning our
romantic partner and wondering just why that girlfriend or boyfriend
is still with us, since we see them giving so much, but receiving so
little from us in return. We let our overly-active and sleep-deprived
imagination run wild as we are wiping applesauce off the floor and
simultaneously trying to soothe a crying toddler who has already
forgotten why he or she is upset. Eventually we start jumping to
ridiculous conclusions that usually revolve around our partner only wanting to be with us for some selfish unknown reason.
I have been on both sides of this situation. I have been with
women who poured everything they had into our relationship; knowing
they would receive much less from me in return. I have also been the
one in relationships who was contributing everything, while my
partner was giving almost nothing. No
matter
the situation, sometimes the only way to get your true thoughts and
feelings across to that emotionally unavailable partner is to
put your words down on paper.
