I don’t wish Single Motherhood on anyone.

It’s not a situation that any woman enters into with glee and racing anticipation - no little girl grows up with dreams of becoming a Single Mom.

And yet, I can say with full certainty:  I would not trade the last two years for anything.  They taught me more than four years of University, several trips around the world, and four years in a monogamous, committed relationship ever could.

I say this with knowledge of the risk of sounding trite: those two lonely, soul-searching years taught me how to be happy and confident with my tiny party of two.

I don’t think it was coincidence that I found this relationship with Corey at a time in my life that I was finally satisfied with my state of being, with who I was.  I understood, finally, that I was a strong, self-sufficient woman and that I could raise a kind, soft-hearted young man who had much with which to grace the world.

Being his Mom consumed my life: I made our Doctor’s appointments and cooked our meals.  I showed my little boy the stars that shone the same in Greece, in Zimbabwe and I dutifully pretended to usher the Tyrannosaurus Rex out of the closet and into the yard where he could eat apples and not disrupt our sleep.  I took the necessary time to appreciate the sacrifices of my parents and my brother, who were pivotal in my healing.  I took a close look inside myself and examined the dark places that contributed to my part in the demise of the relationship with my son’s Father.

I will never forget these hundreds of days, piled together in tears, hopelessness, and soaring joy.  I watched my barely-speaking toddler become an animated and joyful little boy and I did a damned good job of being his Mother.  We were inseparable, us two, and we still are, even though now we are three.

***

I mentioned in my last column that I would be retiring from this column.  It looks like I will reincarnate on this site in a Blender column, and I hope you’ll keep an eye out for me.

In the meantime, I’m so excited to introduce you to my replacement.  You probably already know Tracey  of Sweetney and MamaPop fame. She is a pioneer of the blog space.  I remember the first time Tracey left a comment on my personal blog, I was inappropriately excited that someone “blog famous” would stoop to read my ramblings, and since then she has become an in-person friend, and I’ve met her several times at various blog conferences and events.  She is edgy but kind, intellectual but approachable, and she is also a new single Mom, tentatively finding her new place in the world.

She will undoubtedly have amazing and provocative insight to share, and I hope you’ll welcome her with open arms.

Thank you all again for reading, commenting, and sharing your own stories.  I think this medium is so important to us all, but especially those of us hoping to find our own path, our rightful confidence.

Subscribe to blog via RSS