Last week, my wife was out of the country for her (mostly) annual work trip to Europe. I believe this was her fourth trip in the last five years. When you have kids—especially when they outnumber the parents—it makes for an interesting and chaotic week playing Mr. Mom (and Dad).
It was also a stark reminder: single parents, wow, you must be exhausted all the time!
My wife and I have become especially good at the divide-and-conquer aspects of parenting:
I get them up and take the kids to school.
She gets them off the bus and makes sure they do their homework.
I cook dinner; she does the dishes.
She handles all the medical and healthcare stuff; I manage the rest of the bills.
This is just a small sampling of how we’ve optimized our life together. I don’t have to think about her tasks because I’ve "outsourced" them to my better half—a better half that I trust implicitly.
But when she was gone, things started slipping. A school Chromebook was forgotten at home, studying for a test didn’t happen, and laundry sat unwashed. Little things that aren’t in my normal routine required extra effort to remember, let alone actually do. It was a glaring reminder that we are greater together—our equation isn’t just 1+1=2, it’s 1+1=3.
And in that, I was reminded of just how much I depend on her and value our connection.
The kids and I even had a little fun with suno.ai creating a song about our week.
🎵 Listen to: Daddy's Week of Mayhem
Humans Are Not Meant to Be Alone
The simple fact is, we can’t do life alone. Humans are social creatures. We are pack animals, and our packs consist of families, friends, and communities. We need connection, support, and interaction to truly thrive.
A few weeks ago, I shared about the loneliness epidemic in America. Nearly half of Americans report feeling lonely, with political polarization and societal fragmentation making things worse. (Source: MSNBC)
We were not made to do life alone. And yet, modern society is struggling because people feel more disconnected than ever. It’s not just about lacking someone to help with tasks—it’s about failing to have meaningful human interactions altogether.
I worry that the short dopamine hits from social media have broken us as a society. We’ve normalized online trolls. Ask yourself: Have you ever anonymously commented online and said something you would never say to someone’s face? If so, that’s a problem. We’ve lost the fundamental human connection that builds empathy, and we desperately need to find it again.
A Call to Find Community
Lately, I’ve been diving deeper into the rise of online gambling and its harmful effects (I’ll need to write a full post on that soon!). If you’re feeling isolated and drawn to things like online gambling, consider this: Go find a local poker game or spend time at a bar where real conversations happen. Gambling in person or simply being in a social setting is far better than isolating yourself at home, connected only to a device. While it’s not a perfect solution, at least you’ll have human interaction—people who can serve as a reality check and help keep you grounded. Plus, you’ll likely spend less money in both of these scenarios compared to gambling alone online. Being around others in person is a far healthier alternative to blowing money in isolation.
If you don’t have a community, this is your call to action: Find one. Not an online group—real, in-person connections. Historically, churches played this role in communities across America, and they still can be a great starting point if you don’t know where to begin.
Other ways to build your community:
Volunteer – For me, I can’t wait for youth baseball to start again. Spring tryouts are just a week away!
Join a sports league – If you enjoy playing sports, find a local rec league.
Find a hobby group – Whether it’s a book club, a gardening club, or another special interest, there’s a group for you.
The point is, get out and live life WITH people. We need to rebuild common ground, and that starts with sharing common interests and communities together.
The Importance of Connection
At the end of the day, life is about the connections we build and the communities we nurture. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind, to believe we can handle everything alone—but that’s just not how we’re wired. The moments of struggle, like my chaotic week solo-parenting, serve as reminders of the people who make our lives richer, easier, and more meaningful.
So, take a moment today to appreciate the people in your life—the ones who support you, challenge you, and share in your joys. If you’re feeling disconnected, take that first step to re-engage. A simple text, a phone call, an invitation to coffee—these small actions can open the door to deeper relationships.
We weren’t meant to walk this road alone. Let’s make sure we aren’t.
And finally—Babydoll, it is great to have you back home.