In the five years I have been a single mother, I have not once, not even for a minute, wished for a spouse. Many times I have wished for a third pair of hands (or, really, a clone of myself). Today I paid a babysitter for three hours so I could do catch up work (grading, annual review stuff). This wasn't the first time I've made the choice but perhaps the only time I didn't feel guilty about it. LG had a blast. And after the sitter left, I could actually hang out with LG and not feel stressed about the undone. All in all, a great day. I am still not caught up with work--I suspect that won't actually happen until spring break--but I am not frantic. Papers will be returned, just not as quickly as I had hoped.
The thing about paid childcare...as much as I hate the *cost* I have to say it's wonderful having someone help out without having any emotional entanglements or expectations about the work getting done. I pay for it. She does it willingly. Everyone benefits. I might say more about this later. For now, a shower and then continued assembling of the documents (while I watch reruns of Judging Amy on TNT). Good night.
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