Four and a half years ago, I officially became a single mom. I had been functionally single for a looooong time, but still wasn't really prepared for the reality of raising two little boys entirely on my own. (And yet, that statement is misleading, because I've never been entirely on my own. What's true is that the buck stops with me. I've got - for the moment, anyway - sole legal and physical custody of the kids. I'm entirely responsible for their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. But I'm entirely supported by a community that starts with my parents and siblings, and expands to include neighbors, friends, teachers, and various groups to which we belong.)
There's a part of me that has taken a huge amount of pride in the fact that I'm doing really well as a "single mom". I'm not really sure how to express it, but it has been the core of my identity for the last four years. Maybe there's a little (a lot?) of ego tied up in the fact that my kids are doing well academically, that they've made huge strides socially, that they are involved in lots of different activities, that I'm politically active, that I find time to exercise and take care of myself, that I maintain close friendships, work full time and (mostly) do a good job of making a home for the three of us, and that I've done all of this successfully without a partner. My kids definitely wish that their dad was a dad to them, but I hope that despite his general absence, they'll look back on their childhoods as happy and filled with love and fun.
So I guess that all of the above is why I'm feeling that this summer is a bittersweet time for me, because our family is about to change, and that identity is about to shift. I'm so happy that I've met someone who will truly be my partner in every sense of the word, and yet...I won't get to be a single mom anymore. Adding another adult to the equation changes everything, and while the changes are good, the dynamic of our happy little family will inevitably shift.
And on top of the emotional changes, we've got the physical changes involved in consolidating households -- what do we do with 4 sets of silverware? How many sheets does one family need? Who is going to sleep where until we get a house that's big enough for all of us?
At any rate, I think it might be time to rename the blog. I'm considering something like, two boys, a mom, and a snake plus a man, two more kids, a dog and a fish. Whaddaya think?
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5 comments:
I like the new title, and what an exciting time in your life! But all wonderful things come with changes, so best of luck as you navigate through everything!
Seppie, I bet life is insane right now during this move!! I am thinking of you.
G. and I have been in our place now for just over a month, and most of our stuff is still packed up in boxes up in one of the bedrooms and on the back patio (oh yeah, and some still in the kitchen). Of course, we have two tots so we get one box done each day IF we are LUCKY...while they are sleeping, of course, lest they try to "help" and the whole thing melts into madness.
But still, moves are tough. And you have multiple kids to get settled and the two of you on top of it all...in a space that probably felt the right size when it was just you and the boys. I heard you have a short sale you are trying to get too. What craziness.
I can see how admist all the external changes, there would be a huge internal shift. We weren't adding a family member (or several) and I wasn't changing my whole family structure, and just our move cross-country has definitely shaken up my sense of identity and place in the world (I still remember the day I walked into Staples and burst into tears of relief at the familiar smell of 3-ring binders and ink).
Going from "single mom" to mom with a partner and his children is a big change. As good as it may be, I can understand why you might feel unsettled and changed during the process of adjustment.
Shift your pride to the identity of successfully creating a blended family. Guess there's isn't exactly a word for that. Hmmmmm.
I think ya need to give an update!! Even a short one could be better than nothing!
Seppie, you don't need a new name as much as you need another post :-).
Love, ya sistah
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