Last night I helped celebrate my friend’s little boy’s eighth birthday. While we were checking in at Chuck E Cheese and ordering the requisite pizza and tokens, the cashier smiled at us and gave us the ‘single mom’s discount’. (In all honesty, it was just a few extra tokens and three large soda cups) but we were excited that he recognized the fact that we were there, pulling off a birthday party for our little men and no daddy’s were around.
Author's note: This is NOT a man bashing column today –more of a celebration of being a strong mommy.
My friend lost her husband suddenly a few years ago. It was tragic. She was left with a little boy and a pre-teen girl and a lot of stress and uncertainty. How the heck does one recover from losing the love of their life? A bit after that my other friend ended up going through a very traumatic divorce and was struggling to hold it together for her little boys. Meanwhile, I was sifting my way through single mommy hood and recovering from a bad relationship as well. If you would have run into the three of us a few short years ago, you would have either run for cover or bought us a case of wine!
Through the power of sisterhood, womanhood and a few Xanax we rallied around each other. We took turns holding one another up, babysitting each other’s kids when one mommy was just too tired, overwhelmed, or let’s face it – depressed to do it. We were each other’s dates for Valentine’s Day. We forced each other to get up and put on a cute dress and make up, and sometimes we had to remind each other to eat and hit the gym. We took turns hugging each other’s kids, nursing boo boos and trying to fill in the gaps that were missing.
Last night I smiled and laughed as I sat in the booth at Chuck E Cheese. How the hell did we survive the last few years? Now our kids are turning 8, 5, 4 and even one teenager. They are all polite, healthy and loving little people. I am not quite sure how we survived the last few years, but I sure am proud of what we have accomplished. I am looking forward to more nights with our kids, a few glasses of wine and no more Xanax.
