In the time my sister has been alive, and probably even before then in taking care of my little brother, while my mother was working and my dad was bumming off of her, I took up the role of stay-at-home father. I reckon this kind of relationship started when I was eight or so, learning to cook so as not to be subjected to my own dad's ramen-and-tuna dinners while my mother flew abroad during her politician days - keeping food in the house and clothes on our backs. She was probably a single mother long before they even split up.
We are mothers as well as fathers.
That's a pretty common notion shared among single mothers, yet pretty profound for me, personally, to have read as the first sentence in the OP. After having recently been harassed with phone calls from my estranged father whom I'll have nothing to do with, and after reading this post, I got to thinking. From the little bit I know of Eve and the troubles and triumphs she's been through as a single mother, I can only say - damn right. And if my own father had half the strength and good characteristics of parenthood that Eve has, maybe I could show him the same kind of respect I reserve for her.
I have yet to meet someone who's worked so hard to make sure her kid doesn't have to do anything but play, grow, and clean her room (lol). But I'm sure they're everywhere. And we don't acknowledge it because they, like Eve, don't complain. That, to me, shows someone who understands what real motherhood is about. It's time for the child to take center stage and the parent to do everything necessary to make sure he or she shines. With a job like that, who has time to complain?
But, y'know, rants like this...they're okay every once in a while
'Else you'd go insane. You're totally valuable, Debapoo.
((((((((((((((((((hug)))))))))))))))))))
