I haven't been on this in ages.
My students had a poetry speaker come today. She's a professional slam poet and she blew their minds. She gave them a writing prompt and since she was also writing, I did too.
What it's like to be a Single Mother
It's like I'm pulled in 100 directions
It's like, pay the rent or the gas?
It's like who will teach him how to play ball?
It's like, who will hold me at night?
It's like a piece of me is missing
It's like he fills my whole world with joy
It's like I get 100%
100% of the hugs
100% of the kisses
100% of his love
and 100% of the debt
The stress
The "I'm not good enough"
It's like who has the time to date?
It's like who has the time to shower?
It's like I wear too many hats
and I only have one head
It's like what is child support?
It's like fruit or vegetables this week?
It's like I'm failing in every aspect of my life
Lazy teacher
Lazy parent
Lazy can't-shake-the-baby-weight-fatty
It's like every guy thinks I'm looking for a "father"
It's like, if you call me "baby momma", never call me again, lose my number
It's like I don't need you to play at being his daddy
I'm his father
I'm his mother
I'm his best friend
I'm his biggest fan
I'm the protector
I'm the disciplinarian
And I'm the soft place to land
I'm the good cop
I'm the bad cop
I'm the late night and early day
I'm the glue that
Fills every crack with
Every piece of
My identity.
Because when he looks back
On his life
On his childhood
On this family
He won't see the struggles,
He won't see my inadequacies
He won't see the bad days
He'll only feel
Only remember
Only see
Love.
