Maybe it was my upbringing,
Maybe it was the way I saw my immediate and extended family all pitch in
Maybe it was the fact that we were poor and didn't know people lived different;y
Or maybe, it was the fact that 3 generations of families lived under one roof for years.
Whatever it was I appreciate the fact that I grew up in a very large family, where everyone pitched to cook, clean, share chores, babysit, help with homework, do hair, and just be there for each other. So as a divorced woman and Mother I realized that even though I was now single I was not on my own. I still have a support group that helps me out in any way needed with my children.
I have people around me who when I'm working late nights at the Newspaper, or just need some "me" time, will pitch in without hesitation and scoop her up from school. I have best friends who will watch her while I'm working the video camera late nights at the Mosque. I've been Blessed with people who will keep my pre-teen son for the weekend, take him to the movies, buy him video games, or take him to the barber shop.
So yes, I'm Blessed.
Though being a single woman can be overwhelming when at the end of the day everything falls on your shoulder, and you try not to stress out, there's comfort in knowing that you are not alone.
So no, I won't tell people I'm a single mother, no pity parties here, no victims, and no woe is me speech, we all make our own choices and we have to live with and be ok with the outcome. I have been blessed to have good men in my life who take care of their children, and would give their last dime for them, so no complaints here.
I woke up early this morning, looked out my window, saw the entire road and cars covered in snow. Snow was still falling, those big puff balls of snow, as a child I used to stand out side and tilt my head back, mouth wide open, trying to taste it. But now, as a thirty something year-old mother, I'm dreading the soon to be fact that my children will want to go sledding pretty soon. So I rolled out of bed, got myself together, an hour or so later, after the little one has eaten, checked homework....I filled in some answers she didn't finish, because seriously, it's easier for me to do it, then for her to spend 15 minutes writing and erasing the letter Q. So what you will, but time is my enemy on snow days.
Off to school she goes, I sit on my bed, and all of a sudden I felt ill, it could be psychosomatic, or it could have been real pain, none the less I popped to asprins, and called my boss to let him know I wouldn't be in.
I turned on the t.v. and radio to see if they were going to announce any school closures....they didn't. Besides this is winter time in Chicago, it's expected. I was born and raised here, and I can only remember a handful of times that we had snow days. So as I planned out my day, I would catch up on some reading, sew, do my hair (after all it's natural, so if I didn't do it, no one would notice...oh the joy of being natural!) and actually pack away my pretty spring coats. I pulled out my big gray boots, which I will admit are pretty cute to be such heavy duty, dusted them off, set them near the door because I forgot to take the trash out last night. I opened the back door, and stopped dead in my tracks....Did I really feel like walking 50 feet and down two flights of stairs in about 3 inches of snow, 5 degree weather, to take trash out? Nope! So I kicked off my trusty boots, made a cup of coffee, and laid across my couch and turned on "Kelly and Michael".
So to the store I go, because how dare it snow in early Decembe
r in Chicago, I wasn't prepared, yes I know it happens every year, but I though I had another week or so, children need snow boots, snow pants, heavier gloves, long johns, and more scarves....oh and new Sleds......
Hopefully next year, I would have made some friends in Florida who wouldn't mind me lounging on their couch for a week or so. Or maybe I can call up my ex husband and his wife in southern California and bum off them for a week or two....who knows, God does answer prayers, so I will keep the faith. Until then, I will be moping around for the next 3 1/2 months !
