Confessions of a Single Mother

This is yet another parenting exposes that has been inspired by "Confessions of a Stay at Home Mom" by Heather Michelle. My daughter is on her second block of cartoons so I'll have to make it quick and dirty -

We like being single most of the time. We get all the love and hugs, and get to make all the decisions.

Sometimes it's so sad that there's not someone to share that love. It's like watching the sun rise on your own. Wonderful and awe inspiring, but bittersweet.

We wish wish we could be the "easy" parent every once in a while. The one who doesn't have to stand by a "No" answer or risk losing credibility. Telling a child to "Go ask your ___" would be a nice luxury.

TV isn't a complete demon. It's a sanity saver - a buffer during those times that we're about to leave home or are winding down.

The kids don't eat veggies every night and that's OK. Convenience foods for dinner aren't the cheapest or healthiest, but a relaxed evening at home is priceless. And it is my deep belief that mac n cheese prepared with a calm loving demeanor is magically imbued with the nutrition of organic roasted asparagus and quinoa. Really. Tastes better too.

Most of the time we'd rather be with our kids than on a date.

Sometimes we need to be away from the kids more than anything. And we feel just a built of guilt about that, but not too much.

We miss having that extra towel to pick up or extra socks to put away. A little domestic nurturing is a small price to pay for sharing hopes and burdens with another adult.

We feel like second class parents. Our little units don't qualify as the typical "family" demographic and we won't be buying McMansions in the 'burbs, but we aren't the young free singles that are catered to either. Where's MY demographic? Something like a pre-fabricated, marketing driven, "single parent family" ideal would be nice to aspire to. I want my choices vindicated and where else will I find that but the mall? (said only partly tongue in cheek)