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Single Parenting

Single Parenting: Outnumbered, Overwhelmed, Optimistic

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Sue Birdseye is the proud mama of 5 kids from ages 16 down to 3 - one in every stage of development! She is walking the unexpected road of single mom with a lot of love, a touch of humor and a serious lack of sleep. She hopes to encourage other single moms by sharing her story. If nothing else, she hopes to make you smile!

My Story on a Shelf

Details: Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Yesterday I was at a local bookstore looking for a book about love languages when I happened to glance to my left and there was MY BOOK!! On a real shelf!! In a real bookstore!!

book-on-the-shelf I can't believe how exciting it is to see it. I feel like a little girl with my first art project up on the refrigerator. I didn't think it was in stores until March 1st!

My book is called When Happily Ever After Shatters. It's my journey of walking through adultery, divorce and single parenting. I tried to share my story with hope and humor, because that's how I dealt with it.

There is something profoundly gut-wrenching about finding out your spouse is having an affair. I'd had nightmares about it and woken up feeling as though I'd been weeping for days, but of course that was nothing compared to the anguish I felt upon the revelation. It was such a physical thing...so overwhelmingly awful. At first I wanted to curl up in a ball and weep for days - I didn't allow myself to go there...at least not for days. I couldn't allow myself to wallow, I decided to fight and fight hard for my marriage...for my family. I fought until I could think of nothing else to do.

Divorce is just the worst game ever invented – manipulation, bargaining, second-guessing, fighting over things that should never be fought over. I hated it. I felt like I was giving up on my marriage but, seriously, my husband was living with another woman...was I really the one giving up? I wanted to quit the whole divorce thing many, many times. I'm not prone to quitting things, but this...this was horrendous. I just wanted my marriage back. This new life was nothing to smile about. Although I have to be honest, I did find things to smile about and even laughed a little bit too.

I was blessed throughout the whole process by friends who were willing to jump into my life...both feet! They helped with anything and everything. They watched children, cleaned house, made meals, did laundry, sat and cried with me, wrote encouraging notes, made me laugh, plotted devious schemes to unleash on my cheating husband, and prayed for me.

The praying was the best thing. I can remember wanting to say, "Please don't just say you are going to pray, really pray." I knew that my strength was coming from the Lord - I was pretty sure I had none left of my own. I wasn't sleeping, wasn't eating. I had this huge lump in my chest that made it nearly impossible to feel like eating. I stayed up late and got up early. I prayed a lot. Read a lot of scripture. And tried to make life as normal as I could for my children. It was very difficult, but I was determined.

When the divorce was finalized and I was really and truly a single parent, I struggled. I didn't like this full-time working single mom to 5 children thing. Was this really God's plan for our lives? I had a lot of very honest conversations with God. I had some serious questions for Him and He had more than enough answers for me.

His answers always confirmed His love for me. He loved me most often through my friends and His care of my family. He provided a job at Lighthouse Academy – my kids were down the hall and I had hope of a career. Hope was a huge blessing. He provided an affordable car through Bill Britt Mazda. He filled my pantry and freezer through my friends at New City Fellowship and Classical Conversations. His loving words were constantly before me in the Bible, but also in the notes and cards from my sweet friends.

He showed me purpose and gave me a vision through my children. I knew that giving up on anything was absolutely not an option. I had 5 beautiful children to love on. And they needed a Momma who wasn't a broken woman but rather a healing woman

He showed His faithfulness. No matter how much I complained, argued, and fussed at Him, He still provided His peace and love. Sometimes I was shocked that He still loved me...but that's my God. His love is relentless. Even in the midst of great heartache, God was still working beautiful things in my life.

Oh my! I got carried away. I was just gonna share about my book and I got going on my whole life story.

So back to this book thing! I'm so blessed that God has taken my story and made it into something that I pray will bless and encourage others.

I hope if you read it you are blessed!

You can find it on the shelf at a bookstore!! Yippee!

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That Blasted Box

Details: Posted on Friday, February 15, 2013

Sitting quite nonchalantly in my garage is a big ole box of puffiness. It has moved from leaning precariously next to the freezer to on top of some broken screens on top of a shelf in the corner of my garage. This once hallowed box…relegated to the most unsacred of places…the garage. It’s a mystery to me what I should do with that blasted box.

This rather large white box holds my wedding dress. A mass of satin and lace. I was married in the 90s so it’s big and poufy – beautiful, but big and poufy nonetheless. I doubt, unless fashion comes WAY back around that any of my daughters will ask to wear it. I don’t know if I’d want them to or not.

I’ve considered donating it, but something holds me back. My oldest daughter suggested we make pillows with it – those would be some gaudy pillows to be sure! I’ve thought about just keeping some of the fabric, but truly it’ll just end up in the basement tucked away in a box with all the other fabric I’m not going to do anything with for the next 20 years. (The number of projects I’m compiling for my empty-nest years is staggering!)

I assume there is some sort of interesting psychological issue for me keeping it in the garage haphazardly thrown between the freezer and the bikes. Keeping it is probably the bigger issue – not the throwing. Throwing it anywhere including away would be more understandable in some ways. What am I doing with this silly dress – or maybe I should ask, “What am I going to do with this silly dress?”

It’s not the only wedding paraphernalia I’ve kept. I have a box in the basement full of special things from my wedding and honeymoon. There are love notes and cards – even ones I received during the last weeks and months before my husband left. I keep them because I want my children to see that we really loved each other. I hope that’s a good idea. The dress doesn’t fit in the box – otherwise I’d have probably crammed it in there by now.

Really there are plenty of pictures of me in the dress. That should suffice. I guess I want that dress to mean something it can’t anymore. My dress is just a symbol of lost hopes and dreams…betrayal and lies. Wow, that would make a great Lifetime channel movie, “On at 9 pm. Watch “The Wedding Dress” where lace and satin turns to lies and scandal!”

I know that I’m blessed because I don’t look at it with regret. I’m thankful that I had 17+ lovely years of marriage. There’s something to be said for blissfully unaware. Marriage wasn’t always easy or fun, but I loved my husband and loved being married. Maybe that’s why I struggle with what to do with the dress. I don’t really have bad memories – well, not until the end. And those memories were about someone very different than the man I walked towards down that aisle. God is so gracious to give me good memories and a pretty okay perspective about the present. I’m so thankful because otherwise I’d have probably burned the dress in the middle of the cul-de-sac while I danced around it like a nut.

Sitting here pondering my wedding dress predicament has made me realize that my wedding dress symbolizes my marriage not my divorce. It’s a picture of happier times, and maybe I can appreciate it for that reason alone. Although that doesn’t mean I need to keep it indefinitely. It was a lovely dress to wear. Maybe there is some sweet young bride who would be blessed to wear it…or maybe someone would like some rather ornate white pillows for their sofa? Anybody??

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No Pity Parties Allowed - A Single Mom's Birthday Celebration

Details: Posted on Thursday, November 29, 2012

Today is my birthday. So far it has been quite uneventful except for me saying, “Guys, it’s my birthday, could you please just do what I ask?!”

Being a single parent doesn’t provide you with much of a celebration unless you do it yourself. That’s kind of a bummer. My ex-husband and I used to plan celebrations for each other. I still help the kids get gifts for their father’s birthday – he doesn’t reciprocate. It’s okay truly. Sometimes I just get fussy.

My friends are wonderful though. They have called and sent lots of texts and Facebook messages. I think I’m just in a funky place this morning. A funky single mom place.

It isn’t like there have ever been wild days of abandon on my birthday, so I don’t know what my deal is. It isn’t even a milestone of a birthday. It’s just 44. No biggie. I guess it’s a bit of loneliness coupled with a desire to get away by myself. How silly is that?

And wishing there were some balloons, presents and streamers. Oh my gosh!!! Am I 5?!?!?!?

Ok, that was embarrassing. I sound like a petulant child.

What’s even sillier is that I had a lovely day with a friend a few days ago. I received a beautiful gift. My sweet 11 year old son made me pancakes this morning. He made quite a mess in the process, but it was so thoughtful of him I didn’t even mind. My little girls drew me pictures and used about 3 rolls of tape wrapping them up so that will probably be a full day’s activity just unwrapping them. My son who is away at college texted me to wish me happy birthday! I’m so blessed that he remembered! That is just awesome! I’m so thankful for my children.

And here I sit quietly typing in my favorite chair, drinking yummy coffee and listening to my three youngest children playing in the family room…and they aren’t even fighting! So maybe I should stop feeling sorry for myself today. I am warm and dry, my pantry is full, my children are safe and happy, and I’ve been blessed with another year.

Maybe I just need to get away for a bit today? Although I kind of want to hang out with my kids too – maybe we could do something this afternoon. Nap anyone?

I’m not sure the nap will happen, but I know that today will be a blessed day and not because it’s my birthday but because every day, no matter how difficult, is a blessing. Those 5 little (and kinda big) people who I love with abandon are the most wonderful presents ever. This house all warm and cozy and cluttered is the best place to be with or without balloons. My kitchen might not be filled with the smell of chocolate cake, but it’s full of food (and even some chocolate) and that is something to celebrate!

So forgive me for inviting you to my pity party…do you mind if we change it a bit? Let’s celebrate together that each day is a gift and that each child is a blessing. Let’s find those things that we can be thankful for even if they aren’t wrapped in pretty paper and decorated with bows!

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Hoping for Happy Healthy Holidays

Details: Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2012

The holidays have started! I’m excited and exhausted!

Unfortunately I’m starting them at a serious disadvantage…sick. Several weeks ago I was diagnosed with pneumonia. It just won’t completely leave. When I spoke with the doctor, she said that the most important thing I could do was get rest…lots and lots of rest.

A couple of years ago my response would have been to explain my life…I’m a single mom with 5 kids and rest is not an option. Now I just nod my head and smile. I usually say, “I’ll try.” Which I honestly do. I really do try to get rest…it just doesn’t happen.

It’s like a live a Murphy’s Law life. If I get to bed early, someone wakes up in the middle of the night. If I go to bed late, someone wakes up early. It’s really okay though. I don’t mind my life…I just don’t expect to be well-rested…EVER! So the coughing continues and the sneezing doesn’t cease!

Today as I walked around Costco, I felt like I should apologize to everyone within 10 miles of me. I just can’t stop coughing. I want to say, “I swear it’s not the plague! I’ve been on 3 rounds of antibiotics! I don’t think I’m contagious.”

I can’t begin to tell you how many people advise me to get rest and sleep. Believe me I’d love to, more than I can say. Single parenting is not good for the circles under the eyes or the ache in the joints!

This lingering illness has made me think a lot about how some things are so much more complicated when you’re a single parent. There isn’t anyone to step in and make life easier when you feel really cruddy. It’s pretty challenging to find a place and a time to rest.

I tease my children because every time – and I mean EVERY time – I go upstairs to lie down at least one and usually three children come up to join me. There isn’t any way to sleep with children giggling and moving around! It’s sweet but I sometimes I just really really want to nap!

I realized that I’m not very good about asking for help anymore. The first year of my single parenthood I think I was so overwhelmed that I asked for help more often…or maybe I just had that deer in the headlights look all the time and people felt sorry for me. Now I think I just need to ask for some help.

I believe that it is important that we ask for help. Everyone is busy this holiday season but friends love us and they want to help. So how about asking?

Even if you aren’t sick, there are still times when a friend watching a child or two would be really helpful. Maybe you could even trade babysitting services with another single parent. I don’t mind babysitting because my kids always have fun when friends are over! Everybody’s happy!

I think when I finish typing I might call a friend for some babysitting services. She’d probably be up for a few hours so I could get something done, take a nap, or grab some Christmas gifts! I’m actually excited at the prospect! I’m thinking a comfy blanket, a soft pillow, and a phone turned off, or maybe a mad dash to Target for some Christmas shopping, or maybe I’ll organize my papers…the options are endless!!!

Merry Christmas! May it be healthy, happy and blessed!

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Hiding Messy Me...Maybe

Details: Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2012

Today we had a visit to the doctor. As I signed in at the counter, my 5 and 6-year old daughters were rearranging the waiting room, arguing loudly, and generally creating chaos (their specialty). I was trying to quiet them, dig through my purse and have a semi-intelligent conversation with the receptionist. This is my life.

My frantic search for my driver’s license proved successful, but the insurance card was nowhere to be found. No biggie…been taking 5 kids to this doctor for 10 years so they have my numbers…literally and figuratively. But when I needed to pay and couldn’t find my debit card (which has been missing for days) I just couldn’t bear to share.

Usually I reveal my faults freely but today I thought, “Why state the obvious?” I’m a mess and it is abundantly clear to all who are around me and my mayhem. My solution was to ask to write a check with no comment as to why. No questions asked…no answers given.

Thinking that maybe I had maintained some of my dignity, I sat down and smiled at the mom across the room. My daughters were still building some sort of Taj Mahal and being louder than any children should be in a small confined space, but I felt confident all was well. I was even planning my next post about hiding my flaws well…

Then the receptionist leaned out the little window and said, “Ms. Birdseye, is this yours?” It was my makeup bag. Of course. Apparently, I’m not meant to hide my flaws…I’m supposed to share, maybe even flaunt them. Well, maybe not flaunt, I’m not really that proud of them…it’s just my life.

And, now that I think about it, maybe I should stop looking at them as flaws. They aren’t things I want to point out, but there is grace to be flawed. There is nothing to be embarrassed about just because we can’t hold this life together as well as we’d like. My perfect vision for the day never comes true…there are these little people that destroy my list righteousness. You know that list…the one that states all I’m going to accomplish and how my day is going to progress. I’m so proud of that list and especially proud of the number of things I can cross off at the end of the day. Unfortunately, very rarely…well…actually…never do I get to check everything off my list and most days only a few get crossed off. The rest…they go to the next page. That isn’t even the stuff I drop daily…the lost things…the lack of follow-thru…the forgotten appointments, piano lessons, and phone calls. Seriously…I truly am a mess. BUT I am loved by God and there is so much grace in that. I know that no matter what I do, don’t do, think or say, God loves me.

I guess what I want to share is…we all have flaws, failings and issues…some of us are just better at hiding them. I have so many that they spill out on the floor for all to see, but maybe that isn’t a bad thing! I’m praying that sharing my struggles might actually bless some overwhelmed moms who feel alone in this crazy life. We are not alone…we are a band of mothers – all messy and loved.

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