The Graceful Single Mother

Who is she? — The Single Mother.

She is a spectrum of light. A spectrum bursting into multiple colors. Colors some don’t recognize, colors some glorify! Colors too bright, colors too dull, colors just right.

Some say she’s supernatural, some say she’s overrated, but what does she say about herself?

Today she is full of passion to nurture, and care for, and support. Tomorrow she is full of regret, hurt, anger, and unforgiveness.

She tries to sober up from the sorrows of less than pleasant choices she once made. She tries to smile, she tries to portray her joy, but grief overwhelms her efforts.

She tries, and tries, and tries. Days past, weeks past, months past, and it is a year. Family support, friends inspire, and she seeks help. Therapy, meditation, prayer, exercise, she absorbs with dedication. Then, finally, she breathes again!

She dives headfirst into work and is back on the grind for financial survival. The children must eat. The bills must get paid. Their health must be cared for. They must survive! And she does her thing with pride…she is supernatural again!

Just when the weight gets lighter, she stumbles down the stairs of regression. The regret, the hurt, the anger, the unforgiveness. But who for this time? The enemy of course! It is…herself.

She secludes herself yet again but it doesn’t go away. She seeks the Therapist, she seeks the Life Coach, she seeks her Friends, she seeks her Family, but they do not rescue her. They tell her the truth……. “Only you can forgive you.”

She explodes, like a volcano waiting years for the opportunity. She screams, she cries, and she lets the grief out. She is exhausted, weakened by her own unforgiveness. She takes a rest, then faces the mirror.

She speaks… “Hi dear me. I forgive you.” Tears run down one cheek. “I love you.” Tears run down the other cheek. “You are worthy of being loved. Life is your teacher and you have been learning so much, and I am so proud of you.” She takes a breath. “I forgive your choices, I forgive your actions, I forgive your harsh and unpleasant words. You didn’t know better then. I forgive you. It’s ok to let go of the pain now. I am here to support you. I forgive you, let’s move on.”

The tears continue for but a short time. She takes a deep breath, looks at herself in the mirror, and smiles. She washes her face, dries it, and she feels renewed. She regains her strength to live.

She is not supernatural. She is not overrated. She is not less or more of a human than anyone else. She has overcome trauma. She has conquered grief. She has found forgiveness within herself. She nurtures her children. She co-parents peacefully. She provides virtue to the world. She is gentle with her workload. She finds balance.

She found harmony!

She is now The Graceful Single Mother.