My daughter has a three year old sister, I may have mentioned that a time or two, Ivy. Ivy’s mom is a single mom as well, except she is a single mother to three small children. I don’t know how she does it. I remember when I was newly divorced how overwhelming it was to be the only person responsible for my child.
I really can’t imagine being a single mom to a newborn and two other children. When Hailey was born I remember being so thankful when her father came home from work so I could shower, or just have a minute to myself. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to do it all alone from the beginning.
As women, not just single mothers, we need to do random acts of kindness for other mom’s, especially single mothers. Offer to help, insist on it if you have to, just to give them a break. If you are letting your kids run through the sprinklers, call and invite their children. Give the mom a time frame so if she wants to take a bubble bath or run to the store without her little ones she will know she has time.
Invite her children to have a sleepover with your children. Sometimes an unexpected night of quiet is just what a single mom needs, it allows her to recharge her batteries and give her children her best the next day. Just little things can make a huge difference. One hour on a stressful day may make all the difference in someone’s life.
If your children are grown you can still offer to help. I love having Ivy help me with the flower beds or baking cookies. Once your own children are too busy for those things its fun to borrow someone else’s for a little while. The other mom will be grateful for the break and when you return the little one, you will be grateful that yours are grown.