There are few things finer than spring festivals, in my book. Today we attended the Kite Festival on the Mall, right next to the Washington Monument, and then wandered over to the National Building Museum for the Cherry Blossom Festival’s opening ceremonies and family day.
He is flying this little pocket kite:
And then we went to the festival:
And had a wonderful time.
Tags: single mother, single mom, family fun, Cherry Blossom Festival, Kite Festival, Washington DC
The Johns Hopkins University has released results of a study that shows that children who live in environments with high rates of transition (aka, yet another grown up the kid’s gotten attached to has moved out) are much more likely to have behavioral patterns than children who live in stable two parent–and stable single parent–homes.
I know that is one of the things Rachel Sarah was criticized for, once her book, Single Mom Seeking, came out. Some folks felt she introduced her child to the men she was dating far too soon in the relationship. On the other end of …read more
I’m exhausted. I’ve had a Netflix sitting on my bedside table for a week, but haven’t found the time to watch it. My beloved books are lonely.
So is my son.
My mother has keys to my house. Today, she picked the boy up from school and he wanted to go to his house to play. Apparently, he was very sad I wasn’t home when he came in. He spent ten minutes looking for me. It’s nice to be loved. I wish I didn’t have to disappoint him sometimes. On the eve of his birthday, he wanted me to snuggle more… and …read more
I’m in tears tonight because there’s just not enough time. I’ve already worked almost 30 hours this week and it’s only Tuesday. All I wanted to do tonight was lay on that little boy’s bed and snuggle him. But work is insane right now, and if I want to be able to take my lunch hour tomorrow and sneak over to his school for a piece of cake and a round of Happy Birthday, I’m going to have to be up all night working, tonight. There’s no way my kid’s fourth birthday is going to be just another day. No …read more
I’m still working. Yes, I know, it’s 9:30-something at night. Yes, I know I’m meant to be in bed watching The Illusionist. But if I don’t get this stuff done, it won’t get done, and then we’ll be up the creek without a paddle. I’m trying very hard to avoid getting overwhelmed and you know what?? I’m succeeding.
Know how? I just keep doing the next thing. I get one thing done, I move on to the next thing. I don’t try to look at the big picture — that way lies despair. Nope. I just make myself a list and …read more
I’ve failed in my quest for instant change in the way I live. Last week, although I did eat better, and made conscious decisions to forgo the Crappy Cookies at luncheon meetings, ate more sushi and salads, less refined sugar… I didn’t get much in the way of exercise. I walked to the department store to buy my kid more undies, but couldn’t walk back to work because the lines to pay were so slow. I’ve been exhausted this week, and worked 54 hours (not including the three I’ve put in today, oh no)… I am hoping to get up …read more
Hi, my name is Christina, and I’m a single mother…
I landed in the US six months ago today, jet lagged and heartsick and utterly bereft of the dreams I thought were mine to count on. I’ve been thinking about this day for about a week, now. Wondering how I’d feel when it finally rolled around, wondering what I could possibly say about my transformation. Four suitcases. $400. one three and a half year old. No furniture, job or home. Not much in the way of self-esteem or self-confidence, either. I was going to write about all the things I’m thankful …read more
The bus turns the corner and a woman’s purse spills onto the floor. Angry, she takes it out on her kids. When tempers are short, it’s hard to keep a civil tongue.
Sometimes, mama’s the one who needs a time out.
In our house, time outs are a positive force for change, an opportunity to step away from conflict or an escalating situation, regroup, and rejoin life with our attitudes adjusted and our sunny sides up. And my son understands when his mama says, “I need to take a time out, buddy. I need five minutes to get myself together.”
I take those …read more
In a suppliment to an article in the April issue of Parents Magazine (The Single Mom’s survival Guide, page 66)Solo Mother is listed in the resource section of the magazine!
I suppose I should get a copy of it. How neat! I hope I can continue to be a help and a source of comfort and laughter in the months to come.
My favorite solo mother lost two and a half fingers in an industrial accident last year, which seriously curtailed musical aspirations, unless you know a really good two fingered bass player… and has full custody of his two little kids, aged three and nine months. Full time.
And he does it. He does it with a grace and humor that puts me to shame. Yes, he. He’s a single mother, and a single father, and these kids of his are blossoming. He’s figuring out how to play music again, going to school and earning a 3.9 — and still takes his …read more
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