Flying Solo
When you are flying solo, you need to prioritize. Day four of single motherhood with Joni out of town and if it weren’t for the 2am ear-infection inspired wake-up call from my daughter, I still wouldn’t be posting anything. Or cleaning the kitchen.
But I am inspired now to make an over-tired shout out to all the single parents out there.
How the frak do you do this all the time?!
I was OK for the first few days, but the proverbial straw broke my back with the all-nighter I’m pulling now. Waiting for the doctor’s office to open at 8am to get some meds for Josi. Still trying to manage the juggling act of motherhood and work on what is fast approaching 24 hours with no sleep. Unless you count the cat-nap I took between 12:30 and 2am.
I have no right to complain. There is a light at the end of this tunnel come Monday when Joni returns. But I am filled with awe at the millions of single parents out there who manage this juggling act on a daily basis. I’m fairly certain their kids get random middle-of-the-night ear infections, too.
So today I am making a pledge that this year’s family Christmas present will go to a single parent out there. Since Julius was two, we’ve chosen to spend our Christmas budget on shopping for others. The kids get one small gift from Santa, of course, and their extended family usually gets them something. But we have always wanted them to understand that Christmas wasn’t some scorecard on how many cool gifts you get. It’s about the joy of giving. And when given the chance, kids love to give. They love picking out gifts for other kids they’ll never meet who otherwise wouldn’t have anything for Christmas.
In many ways, I see this tradition as rather selfish. After all, it keeps us outside of the madness and allows us to focus on the parts of Christmas that kids remember when they get older. Things like cookies and decorations and playing games around the table. The warmth of family and the joy of taking intentional time to soak in the fleeting moments of childhood.
As I look over at my little girl, rubbing her ear with one hand and eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with the other, I can’t help but be excited about Christmas. And about the memories we are able to make together that will last far longer than any toy. So as I await the return of my better half, and the light at the end of this single parent tunnel, I turn to all the single parents out there and I salute you.
In the meanwhile, if anyone knows a single parent in the Denver area who may need some anonymous Christmas cheer, please let me know.
