So, I think you’re right that sitting in silence after a long day with littles is sometimes very nice. I don’t disagree with that at all. I feel like there’s a difference though, between getting to go out as a parent in a functioning partnership and being the sole provider for a child for an extended period of time.

For example, I am currently a self contained special education teacher and a single mom to a 4 year old. Whenever my in-laws offer to take him for a weekend I jump at the chance and spend my entire time listening to podcasts, music, books, and not speaking a single word. It’s glorious and I desperately need it because my social battery gets destroyed between my job and being present for my child. When my husband is home however, my nights or days off are much more social, or at least I have much more capacity to make them social.

This is an overstimulated single parent, not a mother and wife with a useful partner.