Single Motherhood

My heart goes out and my hat goes off to all those mothers who raise their children without a husband. Some of these mother's are "part-time" single moms (whose husbands work away from the home all week). Others are full-time single moms. I have had a small taste of what it is like to walk in their shoes, and it is some seriously tough work.

Raising kids is tough work. Teaching, cleaning, loving and comforting, and all the other roles that a mother takes is time consuming, emotionally and physically and mentally challenging (and frequently exhausting). It is made even harder when all that responsibility falls on one person's shoulders. It is no wonder that the Savior speaks frequently in the bible about giving succor to the "widows and the fatherless".

I've had a small taste of single-motherhood these last few days while my husband was away at a conference. I'm very grateful I still got to have some auditory contact with him, and that it was only for a few days. Still, just thinking that at 3pm I still have dinner, help with homework, getting kids ready for bed, cleaning up, working on my job (I've got CME's), and accomplishing all that on my own... no respite or break or assistance when the 3-year-old is throwing a tantrum, and the 5-year-old is whining that she hates this dinner, and the 18-month-old is climbing up on the table to eat the dinner that is partially dished out but not ready to be eaten, and the 8-year-old is crying because she's so tired of homework and never gets to ________ (watch TV, play with friends, etc.) Yeah, uh huh. You know those nights.

Of course, it also breaks my heart to hear their plaintive comment, "I miss dad. When is he coming home?"

Miranda, my sweet exclamation-point-talker keeps asking, "What day is today!? I love ______ (fill in current day)!!! Is that the day dad comes home? I miss dada!"

He's a great dad, a really awesome friend, and the person I love spending time with the most. He's a good guy, and somebody I can talk to about anything- and do!

Oh, and it's great to have somebody who always takes the trash out.... my garbage cans are overflowing...