single praise

so i have conversations with my lovely lady single mamas
the ones who fill their days much like i fill mine
a mix of hard work that included the household chores; cooking, dishes, laundry,
scrubbing floors, picking up endless toys & books, organizing & reorganizing
this is when we aren't at our jobs like the average american
i begin my day before the sun rises
and end my day far after the setting sun
we are glorified
doctors, nurses, educators - the mom, dad
playmate, love, snuggler, bather, chef, artist & any other title that falls
short of super - human!

on occasion, as we settle into our recliner when the most of the chores are done
we turn to the few friends and loved ones for a little adult communication
or perchance a hopeful reassurance, that
hell  - the days done,
score -- because we made it through another day

how does one surmise
the coming of another day
the onslaught of bills
the constant immeasurable motion of the universe
in which, on the night that you do sleep --
the baby awakes puking
with an ear ache
insurance costs more biweekly
than the preschool attendance
& quite honestly
the influx of insurance costs would equal the value
of ten hard worked hours a week

i am queen of
natural remedy
when the doctor doesn't
have an opening until
"maybe tomorrow"
and as a single mom
you know calling into
work more than one day
-- is the risk of a lost income


then at the end of the day
one must pat themselves on the back
when they work on one hour of sleep
and the hopeless fact,
that i too am coming down with some ill begotten flu
there is no rest
there is no glory for the faint of heart
and so
-- it goes
the method of survival
giving your best
and leaving what you can't control
at the back door