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The Myth of Super Mom
I have three children and there are three people raising them…myself and both of their fathers. Because my oldest son’s father lives an hour away, and has no other children to care for full-time, my son lives with him.
Of course this fact has often bothered me, but because I have two other children (twins) to care for, I don’t lose sleep over it. I miss my oldest and often wish he was here to share everyday life with me and his brother and sister, but I also know the reality of the situation and that his father has every bit of a right to raise him as I do.
There is also the reality of me being one person and three children is often completely overwhelming. Not saying that it can’t be done, not saying I don’t do it often on the weekends, but saying that it can sometimes feel like enough to send me over the edge.
The twins father handles his half of the responsibility by caring for them half of the time. We often have grandparents and a few other selected family members as well that help out not only physically, but financially.
The financial savings comes not in the form of a check, but in saving with the cost of clothes, toys and occasionally summer camp. There’s no way I could afford the Jordan’s that my oldest got for his birthday or could have spent the time and effort looking for them at the affordable sale price that his retired grandmother did.
Then there are the medical and dental bills that come from regular doctor visits and the prescription medicine that follow…times 3. It’s a good thing I have two fathers for my three children and they are both financially sound. Otherwise, I would be like millions of others who are dependent on our government or their parents or families to help them provide for their children. I know there is one fact, which is that I could not do it on my own.
It’s unfortunate that many people don’t speak the truth about the reality of motherhood or parenting. It is frowned upon or looked at as complaining if you state the reality of it or talk honestly about how impossible of a job it is, especially if you are attempting it by yourself. Someone pays the price and isn’t doing any favors by trying to look like a super-hero or super-mom when it comes to parenting. Just like where the Wonder Woman I loved so much who bends steel so impressively, super-mom is another myth that is only found in Hollywood.
