single mom life with teenagers – Mom on the go in Holy Toledo

Content note: This post discusses divorce, financial abuse, emotional distress, and the challenges of single parenting.

For a long time, if someone asked me whether I had any regrets after my divorce, I would say no.

No regrets.

I survived. I kept my house. I kept my kids. I figured out how to pay the bills, work multiple jobs, and keep a household running while raising three children.

I’m also going to graduate school, working toward a future in mental health counseling. I’m trying to build a career, invest in my future, and create a life that looks different from the one I had before. All while parenting three children who are no longer little kids, but teenagers and young adults who are still learning how to navigate the world.

But recently, I’ve realized there is one thing I deeply regret.

Sometimes it’s hard to see the forest for the trees. Lately, my days are moving fast, too fast. I’m up at 5, work on the blog, head to work, sub float, teach, make calls during lunch to switch the considerable amount of obligations over to my name since the divorce, teach, then it’s more work, errands, kids’ lessons, classes, gym, etc., followed by dinner, homework, grade/prep, then just lather, rinse and repeat for the remainder of the week. I practically feel like a robot. However, it’s the in-between moment, in between all the responsibilities and obligations of work, running a household, paying the bills, etc. that the really intense moments and life lessons occur. Often at the most inconvenient of times. But when has parenting ever been convenient?