A single mother’s creed

You know what I really love about this blog? It’s the fact that I have so many readers from different backgrounds, different life experiences, yet we all come together on this website and call it home. That’s awesome to me.

One of my dear readers, Erika Klein (you might remember her from THIS POST), sent me this poem on being a single mom. Erika is 33, with a 13-year-old daughter (that will be me in a while!), and she has such a rich perspective on motherhood that I just had to share it. Sit back and enjoy….

I’M A SINGLE MOM….

Young Single Mothers are just like you.
We may not have husbands or good jobs
We may not sew costumes or bake for the sales,
We sometimes cannot get involved in PTA or other school activities.
While our appearance looks young, on the inside we’re mature,
After all we’ve given birth and raised our children the same as you.
Challenge yourself to look beyond the stereotypical Mother,
And realize that we come in all shapes and sizes.
I stayed up half the night when my baby was sick, learned to heat a bottle and cook dinner while juggling the many demands moms deal with.
I watched her take her first steps and learn to talk.
I took her out for birthday parties, parks and Halloween, vacations and family visits.
I watched her grow with the awe and wonder our children bring.
The sunshiny smiles and hugs, and “Mommy I need you” in the middle of the night.
I am faced with the same issues as other mom’s and I’m not any less worthy of this role because I’m young and single.
Many successful adults were raised by single mothers, and sadly without the support of their communities.
We are not statistics but families that love each other.
We don’t need to be judged or disapproved of any more than you yourself would appreciate someone judging your choices.
Embrace the diversity of motherhood and parenting.
Open your arms to a family, instead of walking away dismayed.
After all, we’re quite the same, in more ways than one.
We’d rather be friends and watch our kids play together, then to perpetuate a prejudice that is unfounded and unfair.
Our children don’t see us as a disgrace, in fact they love us simply because we are their mothers.
I’m a single mom and proud of it!
Who else can single handedly multi task without the assistance and care that most privileged mothers enjoy!
Women have been having children for centuries in their late teens and early twenties.
Be supportive or better yet, remember your mother’s words, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”