why so silent

well that was because I spent part of May and June parenting alone while Benjamin travelled to Germany and the USA for conferences and I didn't want to draw attention to the fact that I was home alone with the kids... hmm when I write that it seems rather paranoid or something, anyway it was just easier not to blog about it.

He had an awesome trip, he got to meet his sister for the first time in 25 years and meet cousins too. It was his first trip back to Germany since his family moved here in 1987 so was a hugely emotional time for him.

It was a good experience for me too... 3 1/2 weeks parenting 4 kids with a lot of very welcomed support from my sister (she visited for a week) and some good friends who helped to keep me sane. The hardest bits weren't the everyday routine, it was the evenings, which seemed to stretch for hours when you have no company. And the not having someone to back you up when something wasn't going right. As much as I bitch and moan at times about what Ben doesn't do, when faced with doing it alone its not a choice I would willingly take. I really do take my hat off to parents who are faced with bringing up children on their own.

WE survived though and I think its made the girls and I tighter, we work together better to get things done and did enjoy being together.