-When we play hide and seek, I sometimes hide very well. Like, under the covers in my bed so that I can close my eyes for a couple of minutes.
-I alternate between feeling proud of myself for raising a confident, competent daughter on my own and feeling embarrassed and inadequate about not having a husband.
-There are a LOT of financial benefits available to single parents. Especially low-income single parents who are also full-time students and who are parents to disabled children. (*Even though Sophie is perfectly healthy and normal in her development, Social Security considers anyone born under 1500 grams to be "disabled." **She weighed 380 grams!)
-I wonder all the time, at what age should I tell her what I really think of her dad? He only visits her 8 hours per week, and I'd like to eventually change that to zero hours per week.
-Trying to date when you have a child can be awkward.
-Being a single mom is the hardest for me when Sophie is sick. I wallow in self-pity and frustration that there is no one who is equally obligated to clean up vomit or other bodily explosions. Also a lot of frustration when I miss school to stay home with her, and then again when I catch her germs.
-I get just as excited for Sophie's class on Wed. nights as she does--the parents get to go into a separate room for a whole hour! Time to sit still, drink tea, and watch the kids through a two-way mirror. It's a nice break.
-I'm not sure if it's funny or depressing that the people in her dollhouse are labeled "Baby," "Girl," "Mommy," and "The Man."
-I will never, ever, ever get tired of hearing "I love you" from Sophie.
Ahh I love this. Obviously I don't know you or your situation that well/at all :) BUT. I will say that I am constantly in awe of ALL the parents I know, but especially the single moms in my life. You never set out to be on this path, it's not what you ever dreamed your life would be, but you are all raising beautiful little people and doing it pretty much all by yourselves. AND living full complete adult lives as well. I don't think I would be up for the challenge! So hide under the covers once in awhile - you've earned it :)
ReplyDeletePS - take this advice for what it's worth (ie, nothing, coming from a stranger with no knowledge of your situation....) BUT I think the less you say to Sophie about her bio dad, the better. You're raising a smart girl....I bet she'll figure it out for herself. AND love you all the more for not attempting to influence her opinion of him.
Oh, thank you so much! I can't tell you how awesome it is to hear all of that--it doesn't come too often. I totally agree with your advice, btw. She's 3, so I keep things very light & positive...but I have evil daydreams about when she's 29 and we gossip about what a tool he is!
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