Single Moms
Being the mother of twin girls is by far my most demanding job and the most fulfilling. Luckily, I have the help of my husband and an entire back-up team which is my family. Moms are celebrated for all of the super heroic deeds we do; deeds we’re able to do because we usually have a familial support system… and a societal one.
But if you’re a single mom, your life simply isn’t the same as your married friends’. Your family makeup is different, your mindset is different, your overall life is different. An ordinary day might look nothing like what others might expect it to look, so just imagine on special occasions, vacations, or even holidays.
Perhaps there is a real stigma, or it’s just in the heads of the single moms, but the fact of the matter is that many have expressed a feeling of exclusion in settings where both parents are expected to gather and participate. Oftentimes, single moms feel left out when all couples get together to celebrate after events like baseball games, ballet recitals, graduation ceremonies, and they purposely leave her out. Do they think that she just wouldn’t fit in, or are they assuming that she’d feel uncomfortable? Regardless of the reason, not only does it affect the single mom but it also affects her children… they feel the exclusion too.
That’s why it’s so important that we’re all mindful and take just a few minutes to learn about the 8 things single moms want you to know:
- Our time with our kids is precious. We can’t drop everything to meet you on a night out when we have our children.
- Being a part-time parent isn’t “lucky”. If we’re co-parenting, the times we don’t have our kids can get lonely.
- This is the hardest job ever. There’s no back up. There isn’t another adult in the house to discuss big issues with.
- We aren’t ignoring you. We are busy, stretched thin.
- It’s not easy to join your family events. It’s hard to see other happy families, and it’s a reminder of what we lost.
- We are lonely. We miss the connection of having a partner, or we’ve never had it and feel its absence.
- We are mourning. Whether we wanted the split or not, we mourn the days spent with our family, or the family we thought we’d have.
- It’s scary. We wonder about our future and how it’s affecting our kids.
(Credit to Mom.com – Author: Katie Bingham-Smith)
One thing’s for certain though, married or single, we’re joyful everytime we hear a little voice calling us “mom”.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “Being a single mom is twice the work, twice the stress, and twice the tears. But it’s also twice the hugs, twice the love, and twice the pride.” – Unknown
