This is such a strange time in my life. When I got divorced I tried dating and decided that what I really wanted to do was focus on raising my daughter. Now, she is nineteen and married. I thought I had more time, I didn’t realize that she was really grown up. Well, not really, she just thinks she is. So I’m settling into this life of what to do after the kids are raised. If I had younger children at home I’m sure it wouldn’t be so bad but she was my only. Now she no longer lives here. … Continue reading →

I love being a mother. There is nothing I’d rather do than parent my daughter. I feel that she is truly a gift. I wouldn’t have chosen to be a single parent but that’s the way it happened. I try to be positive, I want my daughter to always look on the bright side. Yes, sometimes life is hard, but that doesn’t mean you have to let it defeat you. I am always the first to say, keep your chin up, do it for your kids. Sometimes, I forget to take my own advice. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself. … Continue reading →

I don’t do well with change. As a single mother, I’m used to being in charge. I’m used to knowing what is going on and where my daughter is at all times. Now she is married and it’s really starting to affect me. It’s a lot harder than I imagined to go from being the one who planned everything to the one who finds out about things after they happen. I find myself at a loss. I don’t know what to do with myself or my time. I don’t seem to have any motivation to do much of anything. I … Continue reading →

My daughter recently got married, I think I’ve touched on it before. It’s a new world for me, this empty nest thing. Hailey and I have been alone for such a long time, a little family island unto ourselves. Now, I have a son in law and she has a husband. Our family is pretty spread out, we are in Utah and most of our relatives are on the east coast. Holidays are usually spent with friends. Now Hailey’s family has expanded in ways I never even thought about. Today we went to a baby shower for Hailey’s sister in … Continue reading →

Is there anyone who hasn’t heard about the horrific shooting in Colorado? Friday at work it was all anyone could talk about and as fellow blogger pointed out in her blog, Watch Where You Point That Finger, everyone had an opinion about people taking their children to the movies in the first place. Apparently those people have never been single parents. Or maybe they’ve never been any type of parent but I know, as a single parent, sometimes, midnight showings are your best friend. If your kids are young, you hope they will sleep through the movie. As a single … Continue reading →

As a single mother we all wish for some peace and quiet. Well, now that I’m a single mother of a married daughter, I have all the peace and quiet I can handle. This is a relatively new stage in my life and it’s taking a little adjusting to. I’m so used to Hailey being here all the time, now, she’s not. My new son in law is wonderful, but I’m still not crazy about sharing my daughter with him! I’m not used to the house being so quiet, I’m not used to the house staying clean. Mostly, I’m not … Continue reading →

There are so many challenges to being a single parent. One of the biggest is the loss of your dreams. When we get married we all think that this is the person we will grow old with, the person who will share all of life’s ups and downs. The person who will support us when it comes to fulfilling out dreams. It’s hard to let go of that. The thing that still makes me the saddest is knowing that I no one else feels like I do about my daughter. There is no one to share the joys of her … Continue reading →

Car problems, they are the absolute worst. Especially when you know nothing about cars. Recently my car has developed quite a few problems. It was getting older and starting to break down, a lot. Since I have to be able to get to work, my car was not a luxury, it’s pretty much a necessity. As a single mother it is even more of a necessity. I need to have a vehicle I can depend on, no one wants to broken down on the side of the road with their kids. Or even scarier, not be able to pick your … Continue reading →

My niece is about to become a single parent. This wasn’t planned, she and the father split up before she found out she was pregnant. Not an ideal situation by any means but one she fully intends to take responsibility for. My heart goes out to her, I know what it’s like and I didn’t have to do it from Hailey’s birth. There are so many things I want to tell her, ways to make it easier but the biggest thing I can say is don’t try to do it alone. So often we are so proud and don’t want … Continue reading →

I love being a parent and because I’m an optimist I always try to look on the bright side of being a single parent. It’s hard for me to admit that sometimes I don’t like being a single parent. I wouldn’t trade my daughter for anything in the world but sometimes it’s just too much. When I was first divorced and Hailey was much younger just having to be constantly available was overwhelming. When I was married I took a walk every evening for about an hour. I needed that time away just to regroup and quiet my mind. Once … Continue reading →