As a single mom, I sometimes have to stop and remind myself that I am not Super Mom. I cannot do it all by myself. I do not have all the money in the world. I do not have enough energy to keep moving all day, nonstop. And I need to remind myself many times that this is all ok.
This recent frustration comes from my daughter’s new softball schedule. This is her first year playing softball (although she has played basketball and soccer in the past). She has two games each week, some of which are almost an hour’s drive away from home. I make an honest attempt to make all of her ball games. I think I have missed one game (a soccer game) in the two years she has been doing sports (and that was only because my car was in the shop, leaving me without transportation to make it). In tow, at all of her games, is my young son, who is now three. His attention span definitely does not last through the entire game, and I often find myself trying to watch the game while dealing with his temper tantrum during the last half of most games.
On top of the schedule, I had to invest $30 to the team when I registered for her to play, plus she needs a new glove, which I have yet to purchase (she is using a spare one her coach has right now). Luckily she has cleats that still fit her from soccer. I budgeted the $30 registration fee, but had not given a thought about the glove. And to ice the cake, my ex-husband has failed to pay his regular child support for over two months now. Needless to say, I have a few bills that are currently late.
I find myself sometimes just breaking down and letting out a good cry. I have to, or I think I might go crazy. Being a single parent is not always easy, and it can be downright frustrating, overwhelming, and stressful at times. I need to use some of the advice given by my fellow Single Parents blogger, Kelly Wallace, and take a single mommy time out!