Everywhere You Look

Have you noticed that everywhere you look, there are single parents? As alone as we may feel sometimes, we're not.

Case in point: I went out to dinner with AJ tonight (Aly had basketball practice). The restaurant had three seating sections. In my section, eight tables were occupied. Four of them were serving single moms and their kids.

How do I know this? Because I went up and asked the other three moms. I've never done something so bold before, but I just had to know. Can you believe it?

Each mom sat with their child munching away (on what I think is a great kids menu), and each had the same look. I'm not sure how to describe it - it's a look I know I get - but it has qualities of boredom, wistfulness, frustration, etc.

I made eye contact several times throughout my meal with them. We shared smiles. Finally at the end I went up, told each woman about this blog, and said I was just wondering if she too was a single mom. Each answered that yes, she was, and each had wondered if I was too.

The more I pay more attention, the more I realize that we have plenty of single parenting companions, all wondering and wanting to reach out. We really do need to find ways to connect more... to embrace and support our community of families.

I'm thinking of taking my own advice below (see Getting the Support We Need) and starting up a single parent group.