I am hours away from embarking on several “firsts” for me–my first international business trip, my first international flight, the first time I’ve left my kids for more than a few days–as a long-time single parent, I have to admit that I never imagined I would be able to do all these things or thought I would every have a strong enough support network to trust enough to leave my kids for so long!
I suppose this is a great example of why letting others in to help and building a strong support network for a single parent family can be so important. On a daily basis, I don’t always feel the extended group of people that surround my little family. I have become quite confident and independent–but I’ve also learned how to let other relationships happen and keep ties with other people who care about my kids and our family: grandparents, my kids’ father and his friends and family, aunts and uncles, family friends. As I prepare to leave the country for several days, I am really feeling the presence of all of these people as they swoop in to help keep things covered while I’m away.
Granted, my children are nearly grown and I doubt I could have ever embarked on such adventures when they were small. But now I know it wouldn’t have been because I didn’t have enough help! It was because I wasn’t ready to let go and be away from them. Even now, as I pack the final zip-lock bags and write down the last-minute reminders, I know that my nervousness is my own and it is not due to the fact that my kids will be unsupervised or under-cared for–if anything they may be looking forward to my return when there will be LESS people “all up in their business”!
Also: Why Go to a Single Parents’ Support Group?
Get People Around Your Family Who Make You Feel Supported