Single Mom Life: Oh no.

We both cried

When my ex and I decided to divorce, there were several things I understood. I knew I would be single. I knew I would miss him. I knew there would be nights without my son. However, the realization that I was now a single mom didn't hit me until the day my ex moved out. My son, who was three at the time, used to sleep in his own bed in his own room. He returned from a birthday party to find his dad's belongings gone. He came home from a birthday party to find his dad gone. That night, he stayed up until 3 a.m., crying and screaming for his dad. I brought him into my bed and held him. I cried too. He sleeps with me now.

EVERY MORNING?

My ex-husband and I had a routine: we took turns waking up with our son, PJ, every other day. This arrangement was fantastic, and if you have the chance to try it, TRY IT! It allowed both of us to feel more rested overall and be more engaged during our mornings with PJ. I was lucky, but I was in for a shock when I had to start being the one to wake up with my son every morning. Less sleep meant feeling less sane. I became the one who packed his lunch. I became the one who dressed him. I became the one who took him to school each day. I was exhausted. It's interesting, though, how our bodies and minds can adjust to a new reality faster than we might expect. I've been a single mom for nearly three years now, and what once seemed impossible has become my everyday life. Of course, I fill his lunch box with goldfish and yogurt daily. Of course, I lay out his clothes on the couch before school. Of course, I pack his backpack with crayons and construction paper. And what a privilege it is to be the one who feels tired every day.

Things that sent me into a coma when I first became a single mom

1. Waking up early every day

2. Having to hire a babysitter ALL THE TIME! (Dating, Christmas shopping, etc.)

3. Budgeting

4. Windy/scary nights at home

5. Nights off from my son

6. ESPECIALLY nights off from my son with no plans

7. Cleaning, so much cleaning!

8. Mother's Day

9. Loneliness

   
   

   

   
   

Coming soon!

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