As my first blog post here I’d like to share one heartwarming memory that has never faded or been erased by trauma over the years. I think of this memory quite often actually, you know how some just pop up more than others?
One afternoon in the playground after preschool, I was chatting with some moms and of course I'm the only divorced mom of my daughters age group (6 months-1.5 years old). One mom hadn’t realized my status and quickly caught on that I was raising my youngest daughter by myself.
Without one moments hesitation, no questions asked, no judgement of having such a young child and being divorced, no “what must you have done?” or “ how crazy is this woman to have let this happen”?, she reached in and hugged me. A true, heartfelt, understanding hug, right there in the middle of the playground.
Why was this event to meaningful to me? Isn’t this the way we should treat women? In my mind YES.
But so many women have stayed away from me, or made remarks that I didn’t do enough for my family, or that I should have done more for my kids, or just don’t bother to take the time to understand what it means to be a single mom. Of course, there is no way to fully understand unless one is divorced but there is a way to lean in and show support.
Share in the comments how you experienced the stigma of being a single mom? Have you had any special moments of kindness and understanding?