People often ask me "How do you do it with two kids and a career all by yourself"? My response? I just do it!! It's not even that hard!! We do what we have to do, especially when little people are involved, but I have to tell you that it's occurred to me recently that it's the little things that send me flying over the deep end. Any big, huge life event, I can tackle with ease. I was standing in the kitchen making a lasagna for a coworker that had broken her leg. I thought that I would make her and her family a dinner and dessert to ease some of her stress. I make the salad, I make the dessert and then I proceed to gather the ingredients for the Alfredo lasagna. I realize that I had forgotten to purchase the ricotta cheese in between picking up kids from school and an academic team practice. What do you think happened? Did I get back into the car and go to the store that's only five minutes down the street?? No. I had a complete meltdown right there in the kitchen. I cried like a baby over ricotta cheese. Ricotta cheese!!!!!!!!! Very interesting how the little things will harvest the deepest frustrations. I hope that this helps another single momma or father out there. If you have meltdowns like this, I feel that you are normal :) if you don't, then you may just be Wonder Woman.
This is my new journey in blogging. As is already obvious in the title, I am a single mother of two of the most fabulous children that I know (and I don't say that because they are mine), they truly are great kids. I not only love my children, I actually LIKE the people that they are. I know that we all love our children deeply and those are the rules of the universe, but do we LIKE them? I started my journey into single motherhood about seven years ago. It seems that I stumbled into the journey while blaming the seven year itch of my lovely ex husband....but now...now it seems that I am stumbling into a seven year itch myself. Not the typical seven year itch where you look for attention from others, but the kind where you almost want to run from it. I used to be the most social of creatures, but in recent months, I seem to want to be a recluse. It's safer in that environment. My daughter is now 13, yes...stumbling into womanhoo...
Wow, a cool post :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for such a good post :)
:)
DeleteI can understand that stress builds up and when the container is full, the crying meltdown just releases some of that overflowing stress hidden there inside.
ReplyDeleteI'm the type who makes do with what I have and often substitute for what I don't have on hand. I've had some amazing results and some not so amazing but as long as it's edible, it's OK. You have a big heart and that's what counts.
Hugs,
JB
You are sooooo so sweet. Thank you :)
DeleteWonder Woman you may not be (and neither am I) but Kristen - you're doing a great job.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Molly. I need to hear that!!!!! :)
DeleteNot just single parents. The straws that break this camel's back are almost always tiny. Inconsequential. Except that they aren't.
ReplyDeleteWhen I find myself sobbing because I cannot find my favourite pen (despite there being a zillion others) I know that I am running on empty and need to take time out and regroup.
Do I do it?
Not often enough.
We need to regroup more often, you are sooooo on target. :)
DeleteTotally totally totally get it ... hugs!!!!
ReplyDeleteHugs right back!!!!!
DeleteBrave you're, wonderful job. Keep going.
ReplyDeleteStuff happens. Dust yourself off, take a deep breath, and get on with life.
ReplyDeleteBig hugs, honey...
It's always the little things, right? When the big things come, I try to find solutions to them. But when the small things add up I get to those meltdowns, too. You're right, they're normal. And the good thing is...a week later we can usually laugh about it :) You're doing an amazing job juggling it all!
ReplyDelete