Tag: Single parent

Happiness, Self care

Love is . . .

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LoveIs

When I was young, there was a cartoon called, “Love is…” that appeared in the Rocky Mountain News that I found both adorable and disturbing. The young characters rarely wore clothing and they were always doing sweet (and many times, sappy) things for each other.

I’ve been thinking about that cartoon a lot lately. My boyfriend takes care of me – really takes care of me. He took me to the doctor yesterday after I sprained a muscle, worried it could be more; fixed the heater in my yoga room because he knows I like to be warm in the morning; learned to make delicious french toast so he’d have something in his arsenal for a hearty breakfast.

Taking care of me usually fell on me, so suddenly having someone else who not only wants to do it, but will, is humbling. I suddenly feel like that little girl in the cartoon, coddled and cuddled, loved and adored. It’s funny how things from your youth come full circle. Funny and grand.

Photo courtesy of gags9999.

Parenting, Self care

Can we do it all?

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SingleMom

I just finished Sheryl Sandberg’s book, “Lean In” which questions traditional gender roles and encourages both men and women to shirk off old expectations. Research has found that children are treated differently based on their gender right from the get go. It’s no wonder that we continue these “roles” into adulthood.

One section of particular interest to me was on the question women have been asking for years: “Can we do it all?”

As a single Mom who never stopped working, I uttered that question more than once. I carried a lot of guilt about not being more involved in school projects, not baking cupcakes for my sons’ Halloween parties, not setting up more playdates, not being there when they came home from school. I also carried a bit of jealousy for the stay-at-home Moms (and Dads) who had the chance to do all of that.

That was a lot to carry and it wasn’t necessary. “The right question is not, ‘Can I do it all?’ but ‘Can I do what’s most important for me and my family?'” 

Photo courtesy of Easy Wingman.