It is times like this that I am very aware that I am the only parent in my children't lives. Sure the father of my children is around... sort of... but is he really present? Not really. Ok, so that is a fact, and usually I am totally over it. I have been doing this parenting thing by myself for over six years now, and I would say I am not doing such a bad job. I think I've got it down. Then something tragic happens, or one of my kids makes a bad choice, or someone gets hurt emotionally or physically. You name it, but whatever it is it changes everything.
If you have older kids then you know that the problems aren't fixed with a kiss and a hug. With our older kids it can take days or weeks to get through a problem. As a single mom, the real problem is that we don't have someone to share it with. I miss that. I'm not having a pity party here, I am sharing this because it is reality. This week this is my reality. I am having some issues with my older kids and I have to make parenting decisions on my own. I have no one to bounce ideas off of at home, or nobody to back me up. It just adds to the situation all together.
So what do I do then? I seek out wise women who have already parented children who can give me advice on what to do. I bounce my ideas off of them and see what they think. Most of all, I pray. I pray hard. God knows that I need Him in these situations and He is really there for me.
I'm not going to sit here and tell you that this all makes it better, because it doesn't. Sometimes I am sure that my kids are going to put me into a mental institution... but if they do, guess who will have to come visit me there!!!! Ha!!
