No one wants to look mortality in the face, especially if you are a single parent. The fears are so much greater when you don’t have someone by your side to lean on. You wonder if something happens to me what will happen to my children? Who will take care of them? No one could possibly love them like I do. It is a scary thought for anyone, but it is important to have a plan in case the unthinkable happens.
This is one of those things I’ve avoided thinking about, I’m only 22. I didn’t think I would ever be faced with these kinds of decisions at my age. You hear about bad things happening to other people, but you never expect them to happen to you. When I went in for my annual pap smear I knew there was something wrong, but I didn’t really expect them to find anything. Things like that just don’t happen to people my age. So when they called with the results and asked if I had a few minutes to talk I was a little surprised. They had found high grade abnormalities on my pap smear and needed me to come in to determine whether or not it was cervical cancer. My heart sunk. It all seemed so surreal.
I looked at my son and just held him. In that moment I felt so alone. I didn’t know how to face this without the support of someone by my side. I never expected to have to deal with something like this especially as a single parent.
I am so thankful for the support of my family and friends who have been so willing to watch my son for doctor’s appointments and who have given me a shoulder to cry on when I’ve needed it so badly. As a single parent it is important to surround yourself with people you can lean on in your time of need. Reach out to your family and friends and don’t be afraid to ask for help.