No, I’m not single. Far from it. I’m married, but due to The Husband’s health issues and my desire to constantly be on the move, I have taken on a new outlook regarding my kids. If they want to do something, then we go do it.
The road trip was part of this, as was this past weekend. I took all of my kids to an amusement park with 3 other moms and their kids. No dads, no helpers, just us and our kids… and you know what? We had a great time. It was hard, I won’t lie, but it would have been hard no matter what. I have two distinct age groups of kids, so the most frustrating part for me was making sure that both sets were having fun… and they did. Sure, Enigma wandered off twice in the water park and Sunshine had a poop-cident at the same time, but it all worked out after we fled and ate ice cream and funnel cakes. I think my final frontier may be Chuck E. Cheese, and even there, they don’t let the kids escape… and they serve beer.
The point? Well, I’m tooting my own horn, of course.
I am at odds with the “fairy tale” relationship. Even if a Princess/Prince comes to the rescue, nothing says that we have to depend on that person for living our lives. We are totally capable of being single whole parents, even within a relationship. I realize that I am not experiencing the whole picture, because I am not the stable source of financial support, and I admit that I have no long-term idea about what that aspect adds to the equation. When I was a single mom, however, I remember the strict budget (financial and time) that kept me from being able to do as many things with one child as I can now do with four kids. Ironic.
What I am getting at is that no matter your relationship status, if you feel “stuck” at home with your kid(s) then you really can do something about it. You don’t need a partner to help you take them to the park, the grocery store or zoo. Of course, its nice to have the extra hands, but as we are such a financially-focused society, many “at-home” parents are really on their own with their kids, and its not as scary or overwhelming as it seems… its actually pretty empowering, especially when a random restaurant patron compliments you on the behavior of your kids.
Ok, Monday’s babble session has ended. I’m trying desperately to get back into the swing of things after my month of being absent. So much to do, so much to say…
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I2i5cPHgW8
