Confessions of a Single Mother: Episode 2 - My Best Friends

There's no secret that one of the sacrifices a single mother (well, really a parent period) has to make is her time.  Once you become a parent, your life and your time are no longer yours.  You realize this, almost begrudgingly at first, when your basic moments of privacy are invaded by that toddling toddler who knows no bounds.  You long for five minutes to yourself to use the bathroom or shower in peace, and it seems it will never come!  And even as the children grow older, and become aware of their own need for privacy and time alone, they STILL can't grasp the concept that you are a separate individual and your life is about more than their existence.  You can't talk on the phone without them being in your conversation; they might learn after getting popped in the mouth a few times to not verbally add their "two cents" to your conversational bank.  But they always listen, and remember.  And sometimes, you can get frustrated as it seems that outside of work, the only time you have "to yourself" is spent WITH THEM...so it's not really time to yourself.

But that's with the focus and perspective that you should have this time to yourself.  You only feel like you're missing out on something because you think it's something you're supposed to have. Yet, when you're able to look at it from a different angle, you realize that being with your kids is not only a responsibility, it's a privilege and a blessing!

If I were to be totally honest, I'd have to admit, my children are my best friends.  I never understood how this could be until it happened to me.  As I think about it, though, it makes total sense.  A best friend is someone who knows you better than anyone else, and this usually comes from spending a lot of time together.  Over the past decade, I have spent a majority of my non-sleeping-or-working hours with my children.  They know me very well and I know them inside and out.  Just like best friendships and marriages, we have the type of relationship where a single look can convey a message and a well-timed hug can make the world of a difference.  Similar to budding romances and lifelong girlfriends, we finish each other's sentences, have a ton of inside jokes, and share each other's secrets.  We look forward to weekends because it's time that we get to hang out, go places, and do things together.  Whether it's a movie night at home, or a night out on the town, it's memorable and enjoyable because we share that time together.  We bond over good food at the dinner table, and talk about things that happen to us on a daily basis.  We piss each other off but never stay mad for long.  We poke fun at one another, but we know the topics to stay away from because we know what each person is sensitive and self-conscious about.  And most importantly, we love and respect one another.  Although our relationship is definitely that of mother-son, I recognized this weekend that beyond that, our relationship has all the ingredients of a best friendship. Don't tell them I said that though! ;-)

I am grateful for ALL the wonderful blessings that God has given me, but most of all, my children.  I'm proud of the young boys that they are and the young men that they will become. I'm happy that the fruits of my labor are harvesting in such a way that I can tangibly reap the rewards. As I witness their characters develop and refine, I'm pleased that they are the type of people that I would otherwise choose to be my friends.  They have unique personalities and each brings a special loveliness to my life, that would not be complete without their contribution. I am thankful for the privilege, honor, and opportunity to share my space and time with these young human beings, and my prayer is that as they continue to grow and mature, they will also consider me to be their best friend.

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