Single parenthood

I have always had great respect for single parents. But it wasn't until I was one (albeit temporarily) that I really understood the added layers of worry and the difficulty of having backup plans. While we're still new to Colorado, having been here for five months, we are starting to make friends and a small support system is forming. But going from having practically your whole family at your fingertips to having no one, it's been a challenge.

Maya has gotten sick for the first time since we've been here. She has a fever, cough, and a bit of a stomach ache. She's still in good spirits, luckily, but it's the first time it's added some new worries. Worries such as "If she gets really sick, I don't have a pediatrician chosen for her yet. Where do we go?", "If I need to run to the store to get more medicine, how can I take her with me?", "What if I have to take several days off of work, or worse, get sick myself?".

Luckily, my hubby will be here in 7 days and will be staying for three weeks. It will be so nice to once again have someone to carry the load of parenthood in the physical sense. Don't get me wrong - he's still very much involved in her parenting, as I call if I need advice or help, or just to have him try to talk some sense into her! I don't want it to seem like I'm doing this alone, because I'm not. But when he's 1500 miles away, there's only so much he can do to help us if an emergency arises.

Single parents with little to no support systems have the toughest job. I just finished reading a book based in China where a 12 year old girl's father passed away, then the mother was dying and worried sick about what would happen to her child. The girl bravely told her mother she would be fine, and upon her passing, moved in with a friend of her father's and his family. It saddens me to think of those parents who have no idea what would happen to their child if something happened to them. It's made me so much more aware now that we've been out here on our own. It's so important to have a support system to help carry on in times of need.

For now, I'll continue to feed my daughter ibuprofen and chicken noodle soup. And pray that we can make it through this week until we get her dad back in our presence! And Diva Mom can take a few deep breaths and thank God that I'm not in this alone.