Single Parent Link

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"20 years ago, a mama kissed her babies goodnight for the very last time.

I imagine that she wasn’t so different from me.

I imagine that she was tired. And spent.

And overwhelmed by the stressors of daily life with a young family to care for.

I wonder if she rushed through baths and scrolled through her mental checklist while she was reading bedtime stories.

I wonder if she breathed a big sigh once she said the final good-nights and fetched those last sippy cups of water.

I wonder if she murmured 'Love you!' distractedly as she closed the door behind her.

She had no idea what the next day would bring.

That the following morning, she would get on a plane or walk into a building,

And never come back.

So tonight, I’m asking you, mama.

Take a moment.

I know you’re tired. I know you’re at your wit’s end. I know it’s been one of those days.

But take just a moment, maybe after you’ve tucked your little ones into bed. Sneak back in
if you have to.

Take a moment to look down at those babies you made. Just look at how beautiful and perfect they are.

Tell them they are brave and smart and kind and strong. That they can be whatever they want to be and, more than anything else, you just want them to be happy in life.

And tell them you love them with your whole heart, and you’ll never stop.

Not for an instant.

No matter what.

Because we never know what tomorrow will bring."



Credit: Shower Arguments with Emily Solberg

❤️❤️❤️

Yes.❤️

“Did you think you’d be married forever? I did.

I remember I cried walking down the aisle when I saw his face looking at mine.

I remember going on dates and walking up to him and seeing him and we were both smiling at each other.

I remember him saying that was the best part of seeing me. My smile.

I remember him telling me I was beautiful and not just in the way I looked, but on the inside.

But people change. They do. They evolve. I’m not the same girl I was 9 years ago. I became different. So different.

We both evolved in ways that our relationship couldn’t keep up with.

And although we tried so hard, we couldn’t save it.

It hurts. I’ve never felt a pain so bad in my chest before. I know my heart can’t physically break, but I can tell you, it did the day it was over.

So, I stare at myself in the mirror and I ask myself, what now?

Who am I now?

A single mom with three kids, who is trying to navigate a heartbreak. With no savings to her name. No life goals or plans anymore. No spark left inside of her.

No motivation.

Every day I ask myself, is it a day to grieve or is it a day to kick ass? And instead I sit somewhere in the middle of procrastinating in both.

We said forever, but forever is a long time to not grow together. And I watch him and he’s a great dad and he will always be my best friend, but he won’t always be my lover. Not anymore. And that hurts.

I don’t know if I have any answers for you, if you’re going through the same thing. I know there’s no right way to feel. I know some days it’ll be a kick in the guts looking at old photos and I know some days it’ll be singing Destiny’s Child ‘Survivor’ on loud while dancing in your underwear.

But what I do know for certain is this: if I could go back to that girl walking down the aisle, crying as she looked at the love of her life, thinking this was forever, I wouldn’t whisper in her ear to not do it.

Because 9 years together taught her more than she could ever learn, and brought her three beautiful children. Because 9 years taught her so much about herself.

I would, though, whisper in her ear, ‘You can get through anything life throws at you.’

And I will and I can. It’s just going to take a little time. And a lot of hurt, but I will get through it.”



Credit: Laura Mazza

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We see you. We hear you. You are loved.

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"Listen you guys…

That thing they always warn you about?

It happens.

The little boy with the dimples and the wide smile. The one who begged you to play Legos for hours and always said he wanted to marry YOU when he grew up. That little love of your life…

Suddenly, you’ll blink and he’ll be turning 12 next week.

A full-blown tween. A pr***en. Practically a teenager.

And before you know what is happening, he’ll be obnoxious and run his sassy mouth and roll his eyes and pick fights with his siblings as his form of ‘play.’ He’ll stop building Legos and ask repeatedly to play video games.

You’ll wonder where that sweet little boy went.

And then you’ll panic.

Because you can’t remember the last time you pushed him on the swings.
Was it the backyard swings?

Or the park?

How old was he that last time?

Did you give him an underdog?

Did he ask you once but you were too busy picking up dog p**p in the yard, so you absent-mindedly replied 'Just pump your legs,' and he never asked again?

You’ll want to cry over this.

But listen to me now…it’s okay.

Because this next stage?

It’s different and frustrating and weird. But I promise it is lovely too.

Let me tell you about this great new thing called…The Front Seat.

Suddenly, the little boy who’s been buckled in a car seat in the back for SO LONG is big enough to sit in the front seat of the car.

And you’ll be driving him EVERYWHERE. Basketball practice and soccer games and late nights with friends. So, every single day you’ll have this unexpected one-on-one time with your boy.

He’ll fiddle with the radio and turn it up way too loud. He’ll eat all your gum. He’ll tell you stories about school or friends or Fortnite or a funny meme and you’ll notice how his dimples flash as he gives you his wide smile.

If you’re lucky, sometimes a good song will come on so you’ll both sing together at the top of your lungs and he won’t roll his eyes or think you’re annoying at all.

It will make you want to cry.

I’m telling you, it’s even better than pushing him on the swings because every single day you realize a little more what an amazing person he is becoming.

That little boy you always knew is right there…and somehow this beautiful new person is emerging too.

It is lovely.

I mean, really…isn’t it lovely to know a person from his very first breath and watch him become a confident young man right before your very eyes?

I’m beginning to think this is how LIFE is going to go…

We’ll panic and believe the best parts are over.

We’ll cry and mourn the passing of another stage.

But then we’ll be surprised again and again at the next breathtakingly beautiful moment to come along.

Just think, one day you’ll cry at his wedding. And another day, you might hold his newborn baby in your arms.

My goodness, girls, I think the only thing we can do is sit back and soak it in and just enjoy this beautiful little life…one lovely moment at a time."

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Credit: Ordinary on Purpose, by Mikala Albertson

Accurate!

This. Especially .

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