I read a great deal about all the things I “should” do as a single parent. Just like any other aspect of this Western life, it’s quite easy to fall into the trap of feeling like everyone else is doing things much more fabulously than I am—other single parents NEVER say a bad word against their ex-spouse, they ALWAYS have a hot dinner on the table after working all day too. While I strive to do a decent job and am quite comfortable and happy being a single parent, I am SO NOT perfect!
The fact is, I sometimes do grumble a little under my breath about the “ex”—I try not to, and we really have a good working relationship, but it’s hard not to let the sigh escape when he’s late for the 8 millionth time or makes a parenting choice I’m not too keen on. Overall, I think I do a pretty decent job but I definitely cannot say that I NEVER express a moment’s negativity.
I also don’t monitor everything my kids eat—especially now that they are teenagers. Some nights, we eat buffet-style in front of the television or a movie and some nights, (gasp), I don’t cook at all and we have leftovers or take-out. If someone was to offer me a million dollars right this minute to tell the exact clothing and shoe sizes of each of my three teenage kids, I probably would not get it right. I’ve gotten a little out of touch since they started buying their own.
Before I’m a single parent, I’m a parent, AND before I’m a parent, I’m just a person—a completely flawed, bumbling, doing-the-best-she-can person. I don’t make a ton of money like a movie-star single mom, and I don’t drive a fancy car. I sometimes forget to sign permission slips and have the black skirt cleaned in time for the band concert. Despite all this, I think I’m a pretty darn good single mom—I’m just not perfect.
See Also: The Do’s and Don’ts of Single Parenting and Coping With Comparisons–For Parents