Tuesday 26 November 2013

Not So Innocent Questions

When I tell people that I am a single mom, the first response I get is, "sorry to hear".

People...there is nothing to feel sorry about! 

I have two wonderful little people who walk through life with me and I am glad that I have this incredible opportunity to be both mom AND dad to them. The relationship we have built among us is strong, solid and impenetrable. We have each others backs through thick and thin.

Thing 1 and Thing 2 (my Dr. Seuss terms of endearment for them) keep me smiling everyday.  Even when things seem daunting and bleak, they keep things in perspective for me.  They teach me something new everyday and keep me laughing when all I want to do is cry.

My daughter, whom I like to call my "flower child", shows me how to enjoy the little nuances that the day offers.  She sees the beauty and kindness in everything and everyone.  Nothing rattles her - although lately, hormones are kicking in and she can become a tad bit emotional! She wakes up with a smile on her face, ready to conquer the day ahead.  Her beauty is not only on the outside but lives deep within her soul!  She is the girl who will go through live with a smile on her face and a skip in her step!  At times, she can be coerced by Thing 2 to join in his pranks but she is the one that keeps it from getting OUT OF HAND!

My son is the quintessential boy.  His quick wit and incredible sense of humour make me chuckle when I want to kick and scream.  He uses his good humour to diffuse any troublesome situation he is in, which means, I often have to hold my laughter when scolding him!  Logic is his best friend and he uses it to keep me on my toes.  He can be a bit (OK...a lot!) mischievous but that is what I love about him.  And even though he likes to think that he is "old enough" to do everything on his own, he always finds a spot to cuddle up next to me when we watch t.v.  I wish the calmness of Thing 1 would rub off on him...just a little bit!

Both of them provide me with enough content to keep me writing for the rest of my life (as you have seen in my post Dating Advice from a 6 year old)!  I never know what to expect and this can be a blessing or a curse!  You see, wearing both the mom and dad moniker grants me the privilege of being bombarded with questions that would be better answered by a male.  And Thing 2 has a knack for putting me on the spot ALL THE TIME.

This past summer, while helping some family members move in to their new place, my son called for me out of the blue.

"MOM!" he yelled, from across the room.

"What is it?" I asked, as I continued to sweep the floor.

"Gotta question." Pause. "And you HAVE to answer."

"OK ask!"  And I should've known...should've been prepared...should've expected this...but I didn't.

"What is mas-starvation?" 

I nearly dropped the broom.  Yup, that was his question, in the middle of cleaning up and moving in boxes, he needed this answered right away.

All I can say is....SO GLAD HE MISPRONOUNCED IT!

"Um, it is when a lot of people don't have enough food and are going hungry."  I smiled, thinking that I answered that pretty good.

"That's NOT what I meant," he replied dryly.

"Well, until you pronounce it correctly, I am sticking with the definition of the word you gave me."

Needless to say, he was not impressed with my reply and judging from the smirk on his face, he knew DARN well what it was (he has a friend with two older brothers in high school and I am sure this is where this question came from)

So you see, when people say, "Sorry to hear you're a single mom", they have no idea about the joys that being a single mom brings.

Together we laugh, we cry, we conquer, we argue and we love, unconditionally.  Families come in all shapes and sizes.  We are a happy trio and if people looked closely enough, they would see that we are more of a family than most. 
 

Talk to me!  What comment or question has been posed to you that nearly knocked you off YOUR seat?

8 comments:

  1. LOVE THIS!!! and I like you hate when people label us with the Single Mom thing like it is bad........Keep this up sugar - I love it!

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    1. Jules! I know! It's like we wear this stigma...when it really is a BADGE OF HONOUR!!! Single moms ROCK...and you and I know this CUZ WE ROCK!!

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  2. Love your blog Audrey! Trust me, when my daugther able to ask me the same question, I will use your answer! Keep it up, can't wait to read more!

    -Agnes

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    1. Thanks Agnes!!! All I can say is as parents we are never prepared for these out of the blue questions!
      Audrey

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  3. First, my mom was a single mom so I GET IT! I so respect you, my friend. And you're right. It is a badge of honor. Second, that was a hilarious question your son asked! uh....yeah, he knew the answer! haha! So funny that he asked you anyway. What a little turkey. So something my 6yo would do! I have TWO crazy boys, so life is very fast-paced, messy, and adventurous around here. AND LOUD. Gawd, how could I forget loud?!

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    1. Thanks Beth! My daughter helps balance out the crazy my boy brings to the equation! I am sure you have a tonne of stories about your fast-paced, messy, adventurous and LOUD life! But this is what keeps life interesting, no? :)

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  4. interesting is the understatement of the year. But I wouldn't trade it for the world. :)

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