Life with children is NEVER straightforward. But all you have to keep in mind is there are no rules. From one family to another, from one child to another, tips won't be the same and when you think you've got it all worked out, your kids remind you that you actually have not.
So as a single mummy, here is what I know:
- Full-time job = 100% career + 100% mummy
- Sick child? You can be on minimum wages yet that's good enough so long as your boss is ok with you rushing home to wait 2 hours at the doctor's and be home the next couple of days.
- "What does your husband do?" is what you'll be asked at nursery, at the bank, at the groceries store.
- Being credibly angry when your child has been naughty is a lot harder than attending a job interview.
- I was asked "So what do you do in the evening?" by an old high school friend and thought maybe I was weird answering "well, I'm parenting until I go to bed". To be fair that was a lie as I do so through night terrors, nightmares, teething and other night time events.
- A year ago I said having a child wouldn't change a thing. Now I organise our life around nap and meal times.
- Anytime you're away from your child, it's like not having your engagement ring on your finger. Odd and uncomfortable. But the face you get when you're reunited is absolutely priceless.
All in all, I have never felt so strong and proud of working hard and raising my child. It's the hardest yet most rewarding occupation one could ever do.
I get the tears, screams and whines but I get the smiles, cuddles and kisses. The love I have for Brody and the love he has for me are incredible and we are the richest for that only reason.
So as a single mummy, here is what I know:
- Full-time job = 100% career + 100% mummy
- Sick child? You can be on minimum wages yet that's good enough so long as your boss is ok with you rushing home to wait 2 hours at the doctor's and be home the next couple of days.
- "What does your husband do?" is what you'll be asked at nursery, at the bank, at the groceries store.
- Being credibly angry when your child has been naughty is a lot harder than attending a job interview.
- I was asked "So what do you do in the evening?" by an old high school friend and thought maybe I was weird answering "well, I'm parenting until I go to bed". To be fair that was a lie as I do so through night terrors, nightmares, teething and other night time events.
- A year ago I said having a child wouldn't change a thing. Now I organise our life around nap and meal times.
- Anytime you're away from your child, it's like not having your engagement ring on your finger. Odd and uncomfortable. But the face you get when you're reunited is absolutely priceless.
All in all, I have never felt so strong and proud of working hard and raising my child. It's the hardest yet most rewarding occupation one could ever do.
I get the tears, screams and whines but I get the smiles, cuddles and kisses. The love I have for Brody and the love he has for me are incredible and we are the richest for that only reason.