To all the Single Moms

My first inclination was to write about how much Valentine's Day sucks. Then I remembered that I already did that last year - Dawn's Top Ten List of Why Valentine's Day Sucks (not the least of which is the fact that the Valentine's Day mascot is a manbaby who wears a diaper and shoots arrows, and would make any sane person call 9-1-1 if they saw him). This year, instead of creating another list about the evils of this holiday, I'm taking the opportunity to set aside my cynicism and celebrate Valentine's Day with some people I admire - single moms.

To all the single moms out there who bring home the bacon, hold down the fort, take care of the kids, and well, do pretty much everything, happy Valentine’s Day!

You worry about money and because of that, you teach your kids to appreciate the simple things and to value hard work. You strive for balance so your kids understand the value of a dollar without feeling the insecurity of finances that are stretched to the limit.

You work hard to make ends meet. You take on odd jobs that bring in cash while letting you spend as much time as possible with your children, adamant about keeping them from becoming another statistic (pregnant teen, drug addict, juvenile delinquent, homeless person who shoves corn up his nose.)

You seek out men who are good role models and encourage your children to look to them as examples of the importance of honesty and integrity.

You show your kids how much you love and value them every single day. You ensure they never go to bed questioning if they matter; they know their worth.

You’ve taught your kids how to work out some problems on their own, how to cook a meal, how to do a load of laundry, how to mow the lawn, how to fix stuff use duct tape, and how to be a contributing member of a family.

You know (even if you don’t always remember) that you don’t have to be perfect, your house doesn’t have to be spotless, your to-do list doesn’t have to be empty, and you make time to simply hang out and have fun with your kids.


To you, who are overworked and underappreciated, happy Valentine’s Day!

CONTINUE READING HERE!

I want to give a little present to a hard-working single mama out there. Leave me a comment here and I'll enter you for a chance to win a set of my books: Because I Said So (and other tales from a less-than-perfect parent), You'll Lose the Baby Weight (and other lies about pregnancy and childbirth), and the books to which I contributed: Pearl Girls (encountering grit, experiencing grace), and Mother of Pearl (luminous legacies and iridescent faith).  I'll choose one random winner Friday, February 15.  Good luck!