A Single Mom

[mynewplace]

This is something I wrote a long time ago. I don't consider it poetry, any more than I consider ANYTHING I write poety. But it is something that I don't mind showing people, because there are few times that I get words in the right order quite this way.

A Single Mom

A single mom can get up for midnight feedings
Change diapers, change clothes
Manage all the doctor’s appointments
Child care and play dates.
A single mom can kiss boo-boos
Make snowman pancakes
And PB&J’s in the shape of a star. 
It can be done.
But why would anyone do that all alone?
Why would anyone endure the heartaches, headaches
Backaches and pain?
Let me tell you why.
Is it because no one else wants to?
Because no one else cares?
Because "no one else" ran off with a teenager?
Or went back to his wife?
No.
That’s not why,
Though you may think so at the time
When the tears come
When you want to scream
Dammit God, why me?"
Or better yet,
"Why this innocent child?"
You may think that’s why
When this child longs for a daddy,
Looks for one in every face
In every date. (If you have time for that sort of thing)
And says, "Mommy, you should get married."
But that’s not why you do it alone.
You do it alone because your heart now resides outside your body
Smiles its first smile at you,
Coos at you and reaches up
To touch your face with the tiny hand of God.
You do it alone because when you do,
You get all the credit for her good manners
Teaching her to ride a two-wheeler
Her beautiful face and smile
Her generous heart.
Yes, you get all the blame
For everything that goes wrong
When the bike tires go flat
When the hard drive dies
When the television goes out.
But you also get all the hugs
And kisses.
All of them.
All for you
And no one else.

Comments

[rosie-red73.livejournal.com]

*sniff*

As a mother I can totally relate to this. I'm not a single mother so I have utmost respect for you. I seriously don't think I would cope on my own. Kudos.

wow

[sapphirescarlet.livejournal.com]

Thanks. That means more than I can say. No one has ever commented on that before. Thank you, again.