You've Got A Friend In Me

There are many things I love about blogging. The immediacy of it. The opportunity to express ideas both silly and serious. The conversations that spring up and the sense of community that gets created with bloggers and readers.

I've met some very cool people through blogging. People I never would have had a chance to meet without an internet connection and a chance to speak. Although it's a little frustrating to make even more friends who live thousands of miles away from me, it's also exciting and strangely satisfying. It's odd, having these friends I've never met, but it's comforting as well.

Tonight was not a good night chez solo mom. It was a very bad night on the heels of a difficult day where Diva Girl was off school and seemingly hell bent on making my life a living hell. One of those days where if I said "up," she would say "down." If I spent half an hour cleaning a room, she'd follow behind me and in 30 seconds make it look like I hadn't done a thing. By 8 o'clock, I was ready to kill her, and she wasn't too fond of me, either.

And then Kate popped up online. If you read the comments, you know Kate. She's a solo mum from New Zealand who always has a kind word or a funny anecdote to share. She's been one of my most loyal readers since this blog started, and she's also become a friend.

When Kate asked "how's your day been?" the damn burst and I poured out all of the day's frustrations. I told her about Diva Girl's inability to appreciate my need to clean up the crap on my floor, about her inability to appreciate the difference between beside the garbage and in the garbage, about my inability to keep from yelling at her for it. And Kate said, "put her on with me." She didn't judge. Didn't tsk. Didn't lecture or make me feel worse than I already did. She said, "go make yourself a hot chocolate and let me talk to Diva Girl." Then, for the next 20 minutes, she struggled through my 8 year old daughter's hunt and peck typing. She joked with her, gently chastised her for making her mother mental, and brought calm to my chaotic home, all from a world away.

I am very lucky to have this blog. To have a place where I can stay connected to old friends and make new ones. I'm lucky to have this life--crap strewn rug and all--and people I've never even met to share it with. And that's what I love most about blogging.

Comments

Isn't it amazing how the internet really has connected people? I've met the most incredible women on a Stay At Home Mom's board when Baby Hibiscus was born. I've been lucky to keep in touch with them and have a bond with them that I don't have with any of my real life friends. We just relate on so many levels and I've never even met these women in real life, but I've known them for years. It's amazing!!!

I, too, have an 8-year-old daughter, and I have two sons, 6 and 3, and another daughter, 14 months and am a single mother. I started blogging about a month ago and hope to meet other single mothers through it. As much as I love parenting, I often want to rip my hair out. Support for us is VERY important, and who better than other single moms. Can't wait to read more, and I hop tomorrow goes better for you!

Thanks for the shout-out. You're one of my favorite-estest people too.

*nudge* (your links are fubar; the "http" part is missing & is replaced w/ a link to here)

Thanks. Fixed it. That's what I get for trying to do it manually instead of C&Ping. d'oh!

It's nice to know I'm not the only one who has those kind of days.Sometimes I just feel so overwhelmed I'm not sure what to do. But tomorrow is another day!

Well said. In fact, so well said I'm considering using it on my myspace page and not giving you credit. *grin*

ANyway, I've had those days, nights, weeks too. Kids are great, aren't they? Thank God for friends!

Aw shucks mate, i feel so privileged to have been there at the right time. Although the right time is sometimes a very hard thing to work out!! damn time differences.
Your daughter was a crack up and I can't wait for her and BG to have a chat.

"Well said. In fact, so well said I'm considering using it on my myspace page and not giving you credit. *grin*"

LOL Rebecca. Well, you could....but before you do, you might want to think about the fact that a certain someone seems to have had her MySpace account deleted. :)

Awww. You're just trying to make us move there, that's all. :)

yesterday was one of those days here. I came home from work early, and the kids were WIRED FOR SOUND. To top it off, while I'm fighting with two screaming kids at bedtime, SOMEONE decides to call his mother and talk for 30 minutes while I'm screaming and yelling and generally wanting to go to bed.

NOT a good day for anyone yesterday I'd venture.

And get on gmail. Then more people would be "on-line" for you. :P

I totally want you to move here.

And dude! I was on gmail back when it was BETA. mom.solo@gmail.com

Oh, that sucks about your day with DG--I've totally been there! Not today, though, it was her brother's turn:0 Glad to hear you got some support, and thanks for the shout out!

How cool that Diva got the distraction and you got your break - all by virtue of a friend half a world away! Blogging is so cool.

I see that there is already a "Kristin" blogging, so I changed my profile to "KristinB"... Just wanted to add something a Mom friend (3 kids with little help from her husband) told me when I was pregnant with Emily: There are days when you will look, and feel, as though you've been dragged through the grass backwards; then there are days when you feel your heart may burst out of your chest with love and pride... may the latter outnumber the former!

KristinB that was so sweet ! I gotta say... I am filled with LOVE and PRIDE mostly when my LIL' DARLIN'S are sleeping ! :)

I am a single mom of two. I work and attend school. My mom have lived with me three times in my lifetime. She is currently living with me again!!! Its ben over 6 months. She is in her early 50's. Although I love my mom. I don't want her to live with me anymore. I thought when she was old or sick then this would be an option. I'm the oldest among three and my sister and I are a yr. apt. Also, she adds to the situation by having my care for her son daily afterschool while she is at work sometimes past 10pm.... I am paying for everything and this is overwhelming at times. They both know that I prefer her not to bring her son and she should change her work hrs as well as my mom moving out being more stable instead of depending on me. I enjoy visting her at her own house. What should I do?