SOLO RIDES AND LONG STRIDES: Story of a Single Mom.

September 02, 2019

SOLO RIDES AND LONG STRIDES: Story of a Single Mom.

A single mom's parenting duties are no different than they are for a married one — except that you're on your own, I never expected to be a single mother. As a little girl , my future family looked like a fairy tale wedding followed by two perfect kids. There was no room in that fantasy for being on my own, let alone raising my kids alone. Yet here I was raising two kids on my own. Who are pretty grown up now..sometimes I wonder how did I manage that all by myself.

But that doesn't mean I'm unhappy as a single mom. And while every one's experience is different,

here's what I've learnt along the way.

Let it go: Being a single mom is hectic, and sometimes chaotic, but it doesn't have to be a

total nightmare. Be relentless about your priorities and ditch anything that isn't absolutely

necessary. Daily baths? No way. A few extra germs will make your child's body stronger

anyway—they can thank you for those ironclad immune systems later.

Be the queen of your castle: You know that coupled-om comes with a lot of constraints and

compromises. The beauty of single parenting is that no one else gets a say about, well,

anything. It's your house, your rules, and if you decide to leave the dishes in the sink to

binge-watch your favorite TV show once in awhile. Even better, you'll never have to negotiate

chores or childcare duties again because (congratulations!) its all your job. It's amazing how much less exhausting it can be to just do it yourself than to have that argument for the

umpteenth time.

Always keep room for fun: Its easy to get caught up in trying to be the perfect parent, but

single moms know kids don't need perfection from their parents to thrive. A spontaneous

movie night or an occasional ice cream for dinner is all it takes to help you reconnect with

your kids after a long week of school, work, and chores. All work and no play makes

everyone cranky, but single moms know the power of a dance party after a busy day.

Consider kids part of the family, not the center of it: When you're flying solo, it makes sense

to ask your kids to pitch in more around the house. Kids need to feel cared for and valued,

but they also need to learn how to care for and value other. Allocating them with chores on a

regular basis helps kids grow into responsible and compassionate adults who understand

their place in the society.

Impossible isn't the word in our vocabulary: Single mothers know how to work from home with a baby on the boob, a toddler underfoot, and a call into the plumber about that overflowing toilet., a carpenter to mend that broken chest. We don't give up easily, or at all and we master the art of doing impossible.. This makes us strong, but it can also make us go

too far in the name of saving the day. It's okay to say..NO “ Sometimes and to re look on our

priorities. This is important to maintain sanity."

I want to conclude by saying Being a single mom is the hardest, most empowering thing I’ve ever done.