The juggling in life of a single parent is challenging, despite all the good.

There are going to be days, when all we wish for is another adult to lend a hand.

It is just reality, plain and simple.

This piece was inspired by an all-time favorite book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff. It is written with a woman in mind given that is my personal experience.

Many days, this rhyme pops in my head as I go from task to task daydreaming of magical powers to zap all into place.

If you give a single mom attention,
She’s going to ask for more.

When you give her the attention,
She’ll probably ask you if she looks okay.

When she’s finished basking in glory, she’ll have a look of self-doubt.

Then she’ll want to look in a mirror to make sure she brushed her hair.

When she looks into the mirror, she might notice her eyebrows need waxing.

So she’ll probably ask you to watch the k ids for a minute.

When she’s finished waxing her eye brows, she’ll want to clean up the bathroom.

She’ll start cleaning.

She might get carried away and clean every room in the house.

She may even end up washing the floors as well!

When she’s done, she’ll probably want to take a nap.

You’ll have to clean off the couch with all the kid’s toys and find a blanket and pillow.

She’ll plop down, make herself comfortable and look at her watch to see how many minutes for shut eye.

She’ll probably ask you to watch the kids again.

So you’ll watch the kids and she’ll ask if everything is okay.

When she asks is everything is okay, she’ll get so excited she’ll want to join you.

She’ll ask that you keep the house clean.

She’ll start playing with you.

When one round is finished, she’ll ask if you are hungry.

Then she’ll go to the refrigerator.

She’ll open the door and stand back to look at the options.

Looking at the refrigerator will remind her that she has no food.

So…
She’ll ask you to watch the kids.

And chances are if she asks you to watch the kids,
She’s going to want some attention as well.

Love elephant and want to go steady?

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Author: Kerry Elam

Editor: Ashleigh Hitchcock

Photo: flickr