Lately I have come to the conclusion that the only spare time that I will probably have is what I will just have to reserve for me in at least 5 years. I hear of these women who do things called - watching a Lifetime movie, taking weekend trips with the girls, or even dare I say it reading a good book. While I am curious how that other feminine race manages it I can't help be somewhat envious of them and the luxurious life that they must live. Luxurious??? Yes!!! Trust me - to a single mom simply going to the restroom is a vacation if you can accomplish it without a knock on the door or a distant scream of your moniker (MOM!) from the opposite end of the house - being able to sit down and watch a movie alone (ahhh that word itself makes me drool) would be amazing on some days. And I mean actually during the day when the rest of the civilized world is alive and stirring - not at 1:00 in the morning on a school night rushing to the bathroom during commercial breaks to splash your face with cold water just to stay awake and see the ending.
I have come to the revelation that I have in fact cheated many universities out of millions of dollars on degrees that I managed to educate myself enough to graduate from my own school of learning. I am a lawyer, a nurse (and on some occasions a doctor), a loan officer, a nutritionist, a psychologist AND a psychiatrist. I even hold down part time jobs as a referee, a daycare worker, a sideline coach, plumber and handyman.
I have wiped noses, cleaned up puke, walked the floors all night with a sick child, sat in emergency rooms A LOT, witnessed more bloody injuries than an entire season of Grey's Anatomy and attempted to heal quite a few broken hearts.
Now please don't interpret this as me complaining nor as me being a glory seeker. I am one of many single mom's out there who share the same life as me - only in a different house. And I certainly don't take the credit myself because if it wasn't for many prayers and pleas to the Lord I never would've made it this far. Complaining - no not at all because as crazy as my life is I can't imagine it being any different than what it is. While some of the things that I have listed have not been really that glamorous - they have been highlights in my life in some capacity because I was able to be there.
BUT I have also spent the last 18 years on bleachers proudly watching my children aspire to greatness on the sidelines of football fields and basketball courts cheering, or running the diamond of a t-ball, baseball and softball field, dribbling a ball up and down a court, and watching one run for the end zone and spending MANY weekends traveling to ball fields all over Eastern and Middle Tennessee. I have sat at dozens of school programs, went on an endless list of field trips, hosted a total of 48 birthday parties (so far), wanted to pull my hair out through countless slumber parties and spent enough time at doctor offices, dentists and orthodontists that I could actually get by with having a degree printed and hang it on my living room wall with pride. And most importantly or all witnessed each of my children accepting Christ and being baptized.
My children know to place their hand on their heart when they hear the National Anthem or say the pledge, they may not know the words to every Beyonce or Kid Rock song - but they knew the words to Jesus Loves Me as soon as they could talk, they may not know how or when to use a Thesaurus but they know how to find a scripture in the Bible. They make mistakes, they sometimes hurt others and do some things that may not always make me proud - but they know the importance of an apology and most of all forgiveness. They may not grow up to be President, a doctor or a famous athlete - but they WILL grow up to be a loving, caring and compassionate person. They may not be person of the world but they will always be my child but more importantly a Child of God.
I may be their harshest critic but I'm also their biggest fans and in the end when all is said & done and they are arguing over which nursing home will be the coolest for me - I will look back and know that I have certainly made my mistakes with them along the way but I will also look back and smile and say "hey - I must have done something right."
