Mother’s Day.
I read something recently where someone was talking about single mothers and how no one is there to help their kids with Mother’s Day. I remember that vividly from my single Mom years – the Mother’s Days. About how no one was there to wake up with LilZ to let me sleep, or help him buy/make me a present. How he didn’t even really know it was Mother’s Day when he shook me awake demanding breakfast. I remember on Mother’s Day just laughing out lout at one point because I had forgotten it was even Mother’s Day. It finally occurred to me when I walked into the laundromat with LilZ and 2 baskets full of clothes to wash. The laundromat was empty. After a few minutes I realized, “Oh. Yeah. It’s Mother’s Day.”
So, today, I first think about my own Mom. Who had to be quite a bit of a Mom this year…and a Grandmother. She practically let us move in with her for 8 weeks when my Dad was sick and dealt with my children and my mood swings. She kept me stocked with beer AND diet coke. She did my laundry and fed my children. I thank her for being exactly what I needed at exactly the right time…something I hope I’ll always be able to do for my children. I love you, Mom.
But secondly this year…I’m thinking about my single Mom friends. The ones who didn’t get flowers sent to them at work on Friday because their kids probably don’t have credit cards. The ones who still woke up first with the baby this morning to change the diaper. The ones who are still in charge of breakfast, and no one is bringing it to them in bed. I think of my friend Stace, who not only raises two gorgeous daughters alone, but also finds ways to help me out with mine. She babysits on date night and takes LilZ to school in the morning.
I think of all of you Moms out there who are doing it ALONE. I remember those Mother’s Days. The ones without gifts because the kids were too little, so I want to thank YOU today. Thank you for being more of a woman than I think I could be. I only did it for a few years and I still look back on those years as the hardest in my life (outside of Junior High, of course). I gripe at my husband often for not recognizing the work that I do, but who do you gripe to about that? I thank you as a child who was raised by one parent. And I thank you as a Mom who is certain if she had to do it alone, she’d never survive.
Happy Mother’s Day to all of you doing it by yourself – for whatever reason. You deserve the flowers more than I do.
Cry. I needed that this morning! You rock! Happy Mother’s Day!
Well said, so very well said.
Hi, thank you on behalf of the single mom. When times get bad I like to read your funny posts and know that it won’t always be bad. Have a great Mother’s Day!
Happy Mommy’s Day to you too!! I have always thought and will always think you are a super rock star mommy!!! Have a great day!!
Thank you so much for the Mother’s Day wishes. This single mom really appreciates it!
….I might add that I’m typing this while at work. Ugh.
Thank you, that is so sweet.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mamas. As someone who was raised by an awesome, funny, go-getter of a single mom — thank you for this post.
Thank you Zoot. You made me cry a little. It helps to know that someone’s thinking of me.
As a single mom, thanks. It’s nice that there are others out there who recognize what it’s like. And happy mother’s day!
How sweet! Happy Mother’s Day!
I babysat three kids yesterday on my own (7yo, 3yo, 1yo) we went to the park and when I got back I realised how tough single Mum’s have it. I just had the three kids for about 4 hours and there are mum’s out there who do it 24/7.
I give them a big hi-5 and a Happy Mother’s Day.
I”m going to stop coming around if you are always going to make me cry.
I hear you ..and feel this.
Thank you. I’m one of those single moms. Mother’s Day was kind of depressing for me the first couple of years…but not any more. My son is 4 and this is the first year that he had any idea what Mother’s day was. He and I went to the zoo today. Every so often he’d stop walking, squeeze my hand, look up at me and lovingly say, “Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I love you.” And then he’d kiss my hand! It just made me melt.
Thank you so much! I’m a single mom of a 2-year old boy and today he started saying, “bess you, mama” when I sneeze. Suddenly, I wish for allergies…
Happy mother’s day to all the moms out there!
Beutiful, Kim. I hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day.
I read lots of blogs and there were lots of Mother’s Day posts to read. Your’s was, without question, my favorite. This single mom thanks you.
Happy Mother’s Day.
I totally hear you about the single moms. My MIL saw one of her friends yesterday who has a new grandchild (two weeks old) courtesy of her daughter who is a single mom (although her circumstances are atypical: she wanted a baby so desperately that she had an unprotected one night stand to conceive). It made me realize that even though it may BE Mother’s Day for her, it won’t be the same sort of feeling as my wife or a lot of other moms have. It’s easy to forget how fortunate we are.
I went to the Botanical Gardens yesterday to hear some of my lovely friends sing, all mothers. I spent the afternoon listening to the gentle voices serenade the crowd, and watched the people. Lots of kids, lots of famlies, and most of the mom’s doing the wrangling. Some on their own, some as the husbands/dads sat and talked. A few were actually minding the kids, but not many. Heck my friend that was singing? her husband was there with their two boys. Who panicked everytime the one of the boys vanished from sight? (more than once?) yeah, me. Mom’s do the most, best and hardest work….
i couldn’t comment yesterday cuz ya know, mom and the dial-up but you have no idea how much this meant to me……
i <3 you, girl!!!!!!
As someone who has single motherhood looming ahead of her, thank you for this. All I got from my probably (hasn’t made up his mind!) soon to be ex husband was a card that he obviously picked up in a hurry.
thank you for your kind words
Thinking about you. Would you please tweet or something to let us know that you are okay?
The flowers are gorgeous!
Heh, my single mom Mother’s Days are not that much different than my current married ones. Except my kids are old enough now to get me a card or wish me a happy Mother’s Day on their own, and they do
As a widow and mother of two, I thank you.
P.S. Happy Belated Mother’s Day to you.