11 Lessons That Will Make Anyone With A Single Mom Say YASSS
All the single ladies, put your hands up! (And by ladies we mean moms.) 🙋
Single moms are the original self-help gurus.
Anyone who was raised by a single mother knows the superhuman sacrifices that go into raising a kid on your own. They made it happen with less help, fewer resources and more stress than any one person should have to shoulder. Thankfully, these badass women were gifted with magical powers that made it possible to get a two-parent job done with the schedule of just one, all with patience and a healthy sense of humor.
No matter if your mom was a Lorelei Gilmore or that lady from "Who's The Boss," she made you the self-sufficient human you are today. Even if your socks don't always match. That's why we think every day should be single mom day. We asked our friends, family and the Internet to reflect on what they really learned from their solo-flying mothers. We wouldn't be nearly as on top of our shit without them.
Here are 11 nuggets of wisdom we learned from our brave single moms.
1. You're stronger than you think.
"My mother taught me you can put together/take apart/move/lift just about any piece of furniture if you have enough determination. I've seen my 5'0 single mom move entire credenzas with the strength of a linebacker, because she never had---and never needed--a man to help with manual labor."
2. Ask for what you want.
"My mom was the master of getting a good deal. If there wasn't a sale, she'd ask for a discount. And a lot of the time it worked! She taught me that sometimes you get what you want and sometimes you don't, but the answer is always no if you don't ask. I use that lesson now when negotiating salaries and raises."
3. You can do it all. As long as one of the things is wine.
"My mom worked full time, cooked awesome meals, and was always there to help with our homework. But at the end of the day, she'd pour herself a glass of red wine and talk on the phone to her sister. We knew to absolutely never bother mom during her 'wind down' time."
4. Reach out for help when you need it.
"Yes, I had a single mom, but she didn’t do it alone. My mom always asked for help from family, friends, neighbors, coaches, etc. to make sure us kids were taken care of. We were all over the place but the extended network felt like a big family. It takes a village, y’all!"
5. Mistakes are a part of life.
"My mom taught us that messing up isn't the end of the world. If we did something wrong she'd say, just do better next time. She was open about her mistakes, too. It was nice to know that my mom was also a human person with flaws of her own."
6. If you love someone, you'll go to extreme lengths to help them.
"When I was 8 years old, my mom attempted to give my hamster mouth-to-mouth resuscitation after my best friend dropped him on his head. Unfortunately he didn't make it (RIP Gizmo) but her commitment to my happiness was unwavering, even if it meant kissing hamster lips."
7. You gotta work for what you want.
"My mom did her best, but I spent a lot of time whining about wanting clothes and not having money for the movies, meanwhile, she worked two jobs to keep food on the table. I learned very quickly that if I wanted extra money, I'd have to earn it myself. It sucked at the time, but I know a lot of my peers still struggle with the concept of being on their own as adults. It s still hard, but I feel proud of myself for making it happen."
8. You don't need a man to survive.
"My mom has driven herself to the ER multiple times, all on her own, without any whining. One time she broke her tailbone trying to open the garage door to get my bike for me. Another time, she accidentally welded her hand to a non-microwavable mug. Both times, she calmly told me to get in the Toyota Sienna and we took a fun field trip to the hospital. That's one badass bitch."
9. Don't be a judgy a-hole.
"My mom always told us not to judge others because you don't know what they're dealing with in their life. Everyone is just doing their best. If someone treats you poorly, it's probably not because of you, it's because of their own shit."
10. There's no one right way to do things.
"Growing up, we would have breakfast for dinner all the time and wear Halloween costumes in May if we wanted to. My mom always said do what makes you happy and don't worry about what others think."
11. Take pride in who you are.
"My mom taught me that you do whatever you have to in order to make things happen and to never be embarrassed. As a kid, I was always very self-conscious about finances and tried to hide from my friends how little money we had. A lot of my friends came from very wealthy families but my mom showed me how to work hard and take pride in myself. I'm forever grateful for that."