Single Parenting in a Marriage

Ahh, back again! Sorry for the absence, but, as you can see by the title above, life has been just a little bit hectic. Just a warning - the post you are about to read will more than likely contain a fair bit of gratuitous whining and whinging, as I have nowhere else to vent.
Don't get me wrong, I love my husband TO BITS!!! He is a fantastic man. We met almost 18 years ago at Uni, and the first time I ever laid eyes on him, he was wearing a sassy little silver mini dress. Unusual I know, but he was the lead actor in an ancient Greek comedy, and I had gone to watch with my then (but not for too much longer!!) boyfriend. Sitting there watching the play, I thought to myself that he was a pretty hot ticket item, but well beyond my means. Fate, however, had other plans. Thanks to a last minute withdrawal from the next Classics' Society production, I was invited to join the chorus of 'Orestes' and the rest, shall we say, is history. It was lust at first (or for me, second) sight, and we embarked upon a deliciously illicit affair. Long story short, we married three years after, had our first baby seven months later (yeah, you do the math) and have been married fifteen years this August.
We have had our ups and downs, as all couples do, with a pretty spectacular turning-thirty crisis on my behalf, but our love has remained strong and secure. But right now, things are hard. I am pretty much a single parent at them moment and I am not enjoying it much. He has a supreme court trial starting tomorrow, combined with his usual caseload plus several other major business-related issues, so he has been pretty much camping out at the office, coming home only to eat and sleep. His patience levels with the kids are at an all-time low due to the massive amounts of stress he is under, and he can be pretty difficult to deal with when he is like this. So single-parenting is my lot right now and I can't wait until it is over!!! Handling three kids, being Mum's taxi, solo-disciplinarian, homework-helper, chief cook and bottle washer, as well as all the other stuff that goes on in an average week, is pretty exhausting. But it will all be over (I hope!!) on April 15th wen my lovely husband starts three weeks holiday - WHOOHOO!!! He is planning to spend a fair bit of time on the golf course, but payback for me comes on April 30th when my big girl and I head off to the north island (Melbourne) for a three night mother/daughter getaway. We are going to a show, checking out the King Tut exhibition at the museum and shopping til we drop! We are also splashing out on a beautiful hotel, The Marriott, and generally indulging ourselves for a 72 hour period. We are both pretty excited, needless to say!!
So, in a roundabout way I have had a bit of a grizzle about solo parenting and the challenges it poses, but all in all, I wouldn't swap my spot in life for anything. I am blessed with a hard-working, loving and dedicated husband who still loves me, gray hair, extra kilos and all!! I am also very fortunate to have three healthy, happy, beautiful children who never cease to amaze and inspire me. God is good indeed!!!