What I am grateful for, single mothers!
When my marriage fell apart, and I spent such desperate and breathless nights alone in the guest bedroom, my mind spinning a million miles a minute, veering wildly from denial to fury to utter despair… I found a beautiful, handbound book I’d carried with me from home to home, from one continent to a place half a world away. In this little book I began to write those things for which I was grateful. It is a comfort and a solace to have so much for with to be so glad. I thought I’d share my happy thoughts with you all, in balance to my rant of a few nights ago.
What are you grateful, thankful, glad for?
-
I ha
- ve a good job where I’m going to make a little bit of a difference in the world, where my voice and my hopes will help turn the tide, I hope, and bring justice, peace, and honor back to our country. My coworkers are some of the brightest folk I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet, and I’m thrilled to be there…
- We have a roof over our heads, and for as freezing as the house gets sometimes, we’re not spending an arm and a leg to heat it. Just an arm.
- My child and I are healthy, I hope and pray… and I am so thankful that, as soon as I got on my feet in the US last year, I could get the King of Everything the surgery he needed to breathe properly, after living for a year without health insurance in a foreign country knowing he needed this to be done…
- My friends really are the most amazing group of women and men a girl could ever hope to have. And my community was just amazing in supporting me and my son while we reestablished ourselves here in our home town; I can never do enough to repay their kindness, no matter how many other people I might help.
- My parents are a wonder to me. They love my son unconditionally, and are so willing to try whatever I ask them to do when it comes to the King of Everything. They are on our side. They are such a joy to my son; he loves them as much as he loves me.
I am finally able to be the kind, loving, simple woman I have always been; those qualities in me have never been valued before. My life is finally full of kindness, laughter, and joy. There are difficulties. There are scary times. There are setbacks, frustrations, and days where I’d make a sailor run for cover. But oh, there is such peace. - The King of Everything. He is so amazing and wonderful and silly and friendly and outgoing and bright and kind. He has taught me so much about myself, about what is truly important in this lifetime. I’m desperate to live to ripe old age ladyhood now, just to see as much of his life as possible. What a treat he is. What a joy.
- I don’t have to get up at 4AM on Monday mornings to go to New York anymore after the neighbors across the alley hold one of their all night, loud, go go music parties until midnight Sunday night.
- Dinner with friends, kids playing to all available space, and never worrying if it’s pissing off my husband to have such a ruckus, or a mess, or a social life, or worry if so and so is ‘good enough’ to play the game.
- OOH! Here’s one! ONLINE GROCERIES! ORDERED AND DELIVERED.
I could go on and on.
Tags: grateful, MSN.com, Rachel-Sarah, single-mom, single-mother, single-motherhood, thankfulRelated Stories
POSTED IN: inspiration
11 opinions for What I am grateful for, single mothers!
March
Jan 28, 2008 at 7:45 am
I’m grateful for my kids going to sleep without a fuss. I’m grateful for my skinny jeans having returned to me 15mos after my son was born. I’m grateful for silly conversations with my 4yo. I’m grateful for not having to fight over the remote control. I’m grateful for a great cup of coffee every morning. I’m grateful for this blog.
Healing Mom
Jan 28, 2008 at 9:14 am
Being thankful is so important to finding peace and healing. Reminding ourselves as much as possible gives us the hope we need to move on.
I am thankful for:
1-My Son. I’ve loved every minute of being his mother. I’d do it all again.
2-Our health. We are extremely fortunate to have good health.
3-My job. I enjoy what I do, I can make a decent living, and I have flexibility in my schedule which is conducive to caring for my son and, of course, being his taxi! : )
4-My family & friends. They have been who I’ve leaned on when I forget the above.
5-The beautiful things in life:
Gazing at the stars
Hot chocolate with whipped cream in the winter
Cute, chubby little babies
Soft, furry animals
Fireflies in the summer
Cool, green grass under my feet
The first snow…so pretty
Candles
Laughter
Wark cookies fresh from the oven
6-My heart. I’m thankful that despite everything, bitterness has not set in (much!), and I’m still able to love wholly and completely with all of my heart.
The list goes on…
Annie
Jan 28, 2008 at 7:07 pm
I am sooooooo grateful my mother decided to move in the same city I live in, after getting retired from work. She has been here over a year now and I am no longer alone. She doesn’t live too far and can take my son a night or two a week, so that I can have a break. Before that, I didn’t know anyone here and don’t have any other family around. My son’s father is ???? So I can’t count on share custody to get a day to myself here and then. And, she also babysits when my son’s babysitter is sick or on vacation. Thanks Mom, you saved my sanity!
Rebecca
Jan 28, 2008 at 7:18 pm
I echo your sentiments, Christina. But for my situation, I don’t think I’d be the person I am today and have the kind of love and support that my friends and family have given me. I always knew everyone loved me, but now I feel it. It has taken a lot for me to break down my walls and let people in. I’m forever grateful that I have.
christina
Jan 28, 2008 at 9:47 pm
March!! You’re in your SKINNY JEANS? I’ve been carrying my skinny jeans around for ten freakin years. Course, I grew out of my skinny jeans because I quit smoking and became the professional chef of a busy catering company in the same week. Ouch.
I’m going to go stare longingly at my size 7 jeans. They don’t even MAKE size 7’s anymore!
christina
Jan 28, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Annie, huzzah for moms (and dads, and uncles and cousins and siblings and best friends) who are always there when you need them.
buterflymom
Jan 28, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Thank you Christine for reminding me to be grateful when I seem to be my own worst enemy these days. i think i’ll start a grateful book instead of a rant book (that seems to be full of the same thing over and over).
I’m thankful for my awesome teenager who works hard, doesn’t give me a bad time, and is supportive of my new endeavor of going back to school.
kim
christina
Jan 29, 2008 at 8:01 am
Lovely list, Healing Mom. What’s a Wark cookie!?
christina
Jan 29, 2008 at 8:02 am
Kim… do try the gratitude list. Actively seek positive thoughts, and things for which you are grateful, and you’ll soon find you’re not so angry anymore. And yes, you have a wonderful daughter for whom to be thankful!
christina
Jan 29, 2008 at 8:02 am
Rebecca, you put it so well…
Healing Mom
Jan 29, 2008 at 9:18 am
OMG ((blushing profusely)). I meant warm cookies.
Forgot to mention, I’m thankful for spell check, but I need to use it more!! : )
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: