Sometimes people ask too much of me. Being a single mom means that my time is already over scheduled but sometimes other people don’t see it that way. They think that because I only have one child and no husband wanting his dinner on the table after a long day at work, that I have all this free time.
I hate to break it to you, but I don’t. Even without a husband, dinner has to be made. Without a husband laundry still has to be done, the house still has to be cleaned and the yard mowed. The only difference is that I have to do it all myself.
I have had married friends call and ask me if I could pick their child up from school, across town, and bring her home. I don’t mind helping a friend and if you need me to pick up your child because you can’t be there, I will do it. If the reason is because you are making dinner and don’t have time to pick your child up and still get dinner on the table before you husband gets home, well, I’ll do it, but I won’t be happy about it.
People have actually said to me, “It’s different for you, no one cares what time you make dinner.” Really? So my child doesn’t get hungry like yours? I could have saved myself years of aggravation had I only known that Hailey would not be hungry until I had time to make dinner.
I think that married moms think our life is less demanding because we don’t have a husband. As all single mothers know, that could not be farther from the truth. The only time my day may be less demanding is after Hailey is in bed and there is no one but me to fold the laundry. Just typing that sentence makes me crazy.
I hear people talk about how my time is my own, no one tells me what to do, I don’t have to check in with anyone if I want to visit a friend or get my hair done. Well, I guess that is true, my time is mine, I can wash dishes or mow the grass. No one tells me what to do because I have to do it all. I don’t have to check in with anyone, but I have a child home alone waiting for me. Getting my hair done? Who has the money for that?
They say grass is always greener on the other side, but over here on the single mom side, it’s just something else that needs tending.