As children we are told to dream big. The equal rights movement showed us that as women, we could do anything we put our minds to. Women like Florence Nightengale, Clara Barton, Amelia Earhart, and Sandra Day O’Connor have paved the way and given us hope to reach those dreams. As we become mothers, those dreams are often put on hold to care for our children. As single mothers, those dreams may seem almost unattainable, as you are working to support your children on your own. At the end of the day you are far too exhausted to think about anything other than your head heading the pillow; your dreams quickly become a thing of the past.
When I found myself as a young divorced single mother, I felt as if I was watching my dreams go up in smoke. From the time I was a little girl I had high hopes for the woman I would become. I had my entire life planned out, I was going to run away to Washington State University, get my PhD by the time I was 25, and become a world renowned psychologist. I would write books that would help thousands. I was going to have a perfect little family, a wonderful husband, and we’d never have to worry about anything as trivial as finances. Needless to say, things didn’t quite go as I had planned. I continued to go to school after I had Logan, but I couldn’t commit the time or the money to get my PhD, and Washington was out of the question now that I had a little one to care for on my own. My family was far from perfect, my husband was non-existent, and I still dream of the day when I don’t have to worry about whether or not there is going to be enough money to make it through the month.
My dreams changed, but I have been able to accomplish great things nonetheless. With the help of my parents I was able to go back and finish my degree, my major isn’t Psychology, but as a teacher I will still be able to help thousands. I’ve set goals in my life and I’ve done what it takes to meet them. It hasn’t been easy. My life is far from what I expected, but I didn’t let that stop me from dreaming. Before long those dreams became more than just dreams, they became my reality.