A single moms mother's day

Knock knock knock, the door flings open and in rush all your kids. As you brace yourself they jump right onto your bed and you are quickly overcome by love and hugs. Homemade gifts and cards are shoved in your face. As you gasp for air from underneath the dog pile, you see your husband appear in the doorway with breakfast . It's mothers day, the day in which you will be celebrated and pampered by your husband and kids, that is unless you are a single mom.

For most moms on mothers day they don't do a thing which is exactly how it should be. Their meals are all made by someone else or ordered out and picked up for them. The dishes and laundry are left for others or until a different day. The entire day they are showered with love in a million different ways.

For a single mom there is no other person, half or whatever you would like to call them to do that for them. On mother's day single moms don't get a break. They don't get breakfast in bed, homemade gifts or any sort of such thing. If they want a gift, they have to order it for themselves or help their kids make it. There is no surprise to the day unless something is made at school which sadly this year won't happen. Single moms wake up on mothers day and do the exact same thing they do every other day without a complaint.

Every year as mothers day approaches my mom pulls out all the cards and gifts she has received from all of us over the years. She reminisces about her favorite memories and traditions and while I love hearing them, it is also heartbreaking at the same time. I long to have those same memories and bins full with my own family. I kick myself for the way things have ended up and for them being nowhere near where my vision once was. I feel terrible for the "pressure" being placed on my own mom to help my daughter for mothers day, the day in which she shouldn't have to do a thing or stress about anything. I tell her a million times she doesn't need to but I know as a mother she feels the hurt I do and wants to help bring some peace to the day for me.

I write this blog not to come off as greedy or that this is all mothers day is about, but to give insight to others that mothers day is a hard day for us single moms. We sit and watch countless pictures and videos posted of other moms with their entire families. Of the sweet gestures their husbands and kids do. We sit and wish we had that. We wish that we had someone to let us know we are appreciated and deserving of a break. We sit and replay in our minds the what could of been and question our past decisions.

On mother's day we are reminded that we are yet again alone in this parenting journey.

We feel mixed emotions about it all. We are extremely grateful to be moms and for our kids but at the same time we just want the day and pain to be over with. I ask this year that you please be considerate and aware of single moms feelings on mothers day. If you know one personally, please reach out to her. Send her a virtual hug, well wishes or just tell her she is enough. Us single moms need to hear that more then anything.

This mothers day I will wake up to my daughter on the bunk below me (yes we are bunk mates) and quickly be smothered with hugs and the sweet sound of her voice saying 'I love you". I will have whatever she wants for breakfast, lunch and dinner which will probably be pancakes, peanut butter & jelly and mac &cheese, very fancy I know. I will spend my day in awe of her and how incredibly lucky I am to be her mom. And while I will have my hard and sad moments just like many others on this day, I know God will give me the strength I need to keep my head up and believe better things are ahead.

To all the single moms on mothers day, you are amazing. You are strong, beautiful and the best mom your child could ever have. I know this day is hard but you are tough and will get through it just like all the other road blocks and bridges you have crossed in this journey. Enjoy your day as best as you can and be proud of how amazing and far you have come.

And to all the woman out their celebrating this mothers day in pain for another reason such as loss of a baby/child, loss of their own mom etc, my thoughts and prayers are with you all. I am so sorry for what you are going through. I pray God gives you all the strength and love you need.

Happy mothers day to all the brave, strong, beautiful, exceptional, inspiring and lovely woman!

~She is clothed in strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future~