Single parenting is not just bringing up your children, alone.
It is no one else to make the beds
Or to zip up that dress.
No one else to make a tea,
Rub sun cream on the places you can't reach.
No one else to pack the car,
To check the MOT.
Or choose the meals.
Or to cook once a week.
Single parenting is a lone key in an empty lock
A quiet house after lights out
No one to share the details of your day,
The miniscule things that don't really matter
And the really big things that definitely do.
Single parenting is always having to choose which job to do.
Tidy the kitchen, sweep the floor
Water the flowers, empty the laundry.
Do the homework - or not.
Decide on bedtime - or not.
Single parenting is having to phone a friend
When it all goes wrong.
Asking for help even if you would rather be alone.
It is being trapped in the house when all you need is a walk, a long one, that can take as long as you need.
Or even just five minutes so you can breathe.
It's all the decisions rolled into a huge tangled ball of wool
With you as the one and only knitter
Responsible for creating a masterpiece.
Single parenting is like nothing else I have ever known.
Single parenting is a journey like no other.
And no I am not going to make you feel better by adding:
“But having a child is the best thing I have ever done'“
“I wouldn't change anything for the world
“The good bits make up for all the struggle.”
Because I would be lying if I did,
Lying to make you feel better and make the world turn away from the single parents, the solo mothers and fathers once again.
Asking for help when you want to be alone - has really really resonated. I’ve not actually put this feeling into words so I’m really appreciating your words.
So true !!! It’s bloody exhausting , yes we may have chosen to have kids but we didn’t choose to be single mums !