Single Mom at Work
with Karli Larson
The transition from stay-at-home mom to divorced-and-working-full-time mom can be challenging, and sometimes very lonely. Throw in a few cats, an ancient dog and one very brave boyfriend, and life gets downright crazy. Join me as I talk through my thoughts and struggles, my miscalculations and my triumphs. We're in this together, you and I.
When I'm not writing here you can find me over at work on the TisBest Philanthropy blog.
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See Mommy. See Mommy act. See Mommy smile.
Good Mommy! Playing is fun!
I did it, you guys. I got the part.
I really did. Those orange shoes did the trick.
The last time I was onstage, in NYC, I was newly pregnant with my firstborn, and did not yet realize it.
“Does that mean you drank a lot of BEER with your actor friends?” she asked the other night.
“I did. I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were in there,” I told her. “But we were good in the play, you and me. I hope you enjoyed it.”
“I probably did.”
“Now you get to see me from the outside,” I told her. “Now you actually get to SEE your mama in a play. How cool is that?”
She grins, and just as quickly, is back into her book.
It is cooler to me than it is to her—at least, for now. Someday, she and her sister may someday remember seeing their mama in a play, that wild play with all the dresses and funny lines and crazy physical humor that they love and see every day at home with me.
We already “play,” here. All the time.
For me, though, this is big and bright and beautiful. I want to show them a glimmer of who I was before, a very long time ago. I want them to see me striding boldly and without hesitation onto a stage. I want them to see me in love with something again. Some part of them, I hope, will absorb this—their mother being in love with something she’d loved long ago.
I can’t wait.
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Congratulations, that is super exciting!
Mich | June 8th, 2010 at 10:01 am
Yay!
I just stepped back onstage after a five year hiatus (I’m a single mom to an almost four year old) and although some of the days were long and the missing of mama was a little tough, it was worth it. It was an important reminder that sticking with your passion is just as important as being a good mama. It, in fact, helps me be a good mama.
And, the day I got to say to my daughter, “Yes, mama owns a theatre company, and I’m going to perform on stage. And, you know what’s special? I’m going to help change the world.” That was one of the best days ever because I’m not doing this just for me, I’m doing it for her. (It’s a company founded to advance the role of women in theatre.)
Break leggers.
serahrose | June 9th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
Hooray for you! That is good, good news.
anonymom | June 12th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
Jenn,
Many years ago we were at Grinnell together. Mostly I remember comics you drew, involving a roommate, a dog, and making pots for your ceramics class. Don’t feel bad if you don’t remember me though — my years at Grinnell were quite introverted, and I really didn’t know many people there in spite of the college’s small size. I recognized your name when I read some of your pieces in Brain Child (How to Kill 12 Hours makes me laugh uncontrollably every time), and a little bit of online poking around lead me to your blog and to this one too. I meant to say hi before but was busy of course, but I wanted to write again when I read your post this morning. When I decided to get divorced (2 years ago), one of the thoughts that kept going through my head (besides “if I don’t get out of this marriage soon I will die”) was, “I want my children to LOVE life.” I even wrote it on a 3×5 card and taped it up to the wall. And I felt that it was critical then for me to model this for my children. I wanted to teach my children to love life, by loving my own life. I was reminded of this when I read your post about returning to acting. I’m glad that you are able to show your children what you love and what makes you happy. In addition to your own pleasure of course, it sets a great example for them — how to do something that brings satisfaction, and how to return to and reclaim what was once set aside or lost. It’s very redemptive. Congrats to you! And best wishes to you & your family.
Mira Megan Miller | June 14th, 2010 at 8:15 am