To all the single moms.

Every couple with kids have to make some decisions that will shape their family and themselves for the future. You have to lay down the principles to which your family subscribes. Religion, values and discipline. Part of this is the decision that being a parent does not exclude you being a person. The person with whom your partner fell in love with initially. Hunter and I made that decision a long time ago. The practicality to that is often a bit more difficult.

So it was that with my full blessing and encouragement Hunter left on Friday to guide a trail in the Pilansberg - one of the things that defines him and that I seriously love (and find very sexy by the way). And so it was that is was a solo weekend for me with the kids - which I feel is getting easier and easier every time. Actually it went relatively well apart from Saturday night and Sunday morning when the wheels came off - really hard. Found myself with two hysterical boys in the shops and just gave up. Just came home without what I needed to get done. And all was fine again.

It really boils down to a support system and good planning. I try to do the minimum apart from just being with the kids and keeping the basics clean and tidy. Nothing more. We go somewhere that they enjoy, we visit with granny, we play at home. We keep it simple. I leave the tasks to do, the baking and the organizing to weekends where I have my love to help me. Because believe it, I value him even more when he returns.

And then there's the support. Granny came over both days at nap time to give me a chance to nap with them. It helps tremendously. My cousin Ananda also came over on Saturday night and helped to bath and put kids to bed. Never mind that Little man L spent the night with us downstairs watching Paris Je Taime nogals, but that's the least. We had a lovely meal and great DVD to watch and a bit of company - he was so sweet.

Seeing Hunter come home on Sunday night, all tanned, smelling of the bush and bringing great stories just makes my heart jump out of my throat. Despite a very difficult bedtime leaving us with very little time for ourselves, it was great to curl up next to him and wake up this morning with the sound of rain. The first thought in my mind was what if? What if he did not come back? What if I had to face another week, another weekend on my own with the kids? Because that is what would happen if I was  a single mom and I did not have a supportive partner to share my parenting duties.

Single moms, I salute you. You are truly the heroes of the world. I bow down to you.