I'm com8ng upon your post while in a delicate chapter of my life. I'm not a single mother, but I am currently a single-likw father, as I fight to get my wife, my young son's mother home to us. I often think what memories if any he'll have of just the two of us, while at the same time hoping he won't have that much of any, as it will mean I was able to get mama home before his long-term memory set in. But each day, week, month, year that passes makes it more and more likely that he will indeed have memories later in life of he and dad keeping each other strong while we aimed to accomplish the near impossible. I'm near blind, taking care of my son alone, hoping more than anything our small family will be reunited sooner than later.
"It was a good life, she has assured me, no matter how many times I stumbled." It does my soul good to read this, as the single mother of a teenager who's getting closer to leaving the nest. I can't imagine that the memories and experiences stemming from this past decade of my life will ever stop informing the human that I've become as a result. Thank you for this post, Connie.
My mom was a single mother, raising three kids on a nurse's salary. She worked at Lakewood Hospital for decades. We didn't have a lot, but we had laughter and love. Thanks for sharing such beautiful memories.
My mom became a single parent after she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. It was hard enough to cope with a debilitating disease, but to have your husband leave his family with two small kids was just shocking. Add in all the changes and uncertainties resulting from divorce - it was beyond overwhelming. With loving grandparents just blocks away and a neighborhood of friends we somehow kept going. What sticks in my memory was the afternoon my mom came to school to talk with my 1st grade teacher Miss White, letting her know our Dad had walked out, and she was going back to work - also as a teacher. I remember feeling so uncomfortable, and scared not knowing any other families like ours. But Miss White, like so many during those years became a saving grace that day listening and then making plans to help both of us. She gave me a special nickname "FP" for her Fairy Princess and also became a warm and encouraging friend for my mom. What started as the lonely struggle of Single mothering - eventually became network of other mothers, friends, and a caring community around us. Hope and love got us through. Hope was anchored within me as something never to give up on. Thank you Connie - What a gift you are for all of us so in need of hope. Thank you, Shannon
I am now married to a wonderful man who treats my 35 year old daughter as his own but I remember my feelings from my days as a single mom. Sad and a very scary period, even with wonderful grandparents aside me. It still hurts.
I saw you on RMS tonight. and read the the post about Franklin and laughed out loud and immediately signed up. We can all use a little hope. Here’s hoping tomorrow is a start towards a shift to sanity and empathy.
Beautiful story…and I was fortunate enough to see you on the Rachel Maddow show today. You give me hope for Ohio and for women’s reproductive rights in general.
The laziest thing in the world to be is a cynic. -  Pulitzer Prize winning author Connie Schultz
Just viewed your conversation with Rachel Meadow and I am so impressed with your discussion that I want to subscribe, I am a retired Army officer and have been so angry about the fact that women have never achieved equal rights in the USA, I want to see that in my lifetime before I die. Thank you, I am 77 years old and want to read all that you are fighting for and support👍🙏
Meeting you this evening meant everything to me. Reading you for so many years and knowing we were close in age made me feel like your friend without ever meeting in person. Sometimes when you meet someone you have always held in high esteem can be disappointing. Not with you. I’m so happy I can again read and connect with you here💙
I see myself in your story. Even 25 years after the divorce I still carry the guilt. And yet my children are in their 40’s with loving spouses and happy homes.
When divorce hits you a week after celebrating your 31st anniversary, you still become a single parent sometimes. The kids may not live with you, but they are just as adrift. People recover, life goes on, and it becomes the past.
I never had the privilege of being a mom, but I have been divorced, newly single again, and now refer to it as, “one of my previous lives.” I have never regretted it, nor would I change any of the life lessons learned. Like a book, we all have chapters. I’m still writing mine. I love hearing about those of others.
Jul 26, 2023·edited Jul 27, 2023Liked by Connie Schultz
Your story is so similar to mine. Same ages and I was sure I did everything wrong as a single mother for 10 years. I’m very close to my daughter and her wonderful husband and my perfect little grandson. Things work out. We were rock stars.
I'm com8ng upon your post while in a delicate chapter of my life. I'm not a single mother, but I am currently a single-likw father, as I fight to get my wife, my young son's mother home to us. I often think what memories if any he'll have of just the two of us, while at the same time hoping he won't have that much of any, as it will mean I was able to get mama home before his long-term memory set in. But each day, week, month, year that passes makes it more and more likely that he will indeed have memories later in life of he and dad keeping each other strong while we aimed to accomplish the near impossible. I'm near blind, taking care of my son alone, hoping more than anything our small family will be reunited sooner than later.
"It was a good life, she has assured me, no matter how many times I stumbled." It does my soul good to read this, as the single mother of a teenager who's getting closer to leaving the nest. I can't imagine that the memories and experiences stemming from this past decade of my life will ever stop informing the human that I've become as a result. Thank you for this post, Connie.
It’s a gift that our children sing back the songs of their childhood so we can right ourselves in the history.
My mom was a single mother, raising three kids on a nurse's salary. She worked at Lakewood Hospital for decades. We didn't have a lot, but we had laughter and love. Thanks for sharing such beautiful memories.
My mom became a single parent after she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. It was hard enough to cope with a debilitating disease, but to have your husband leave his family with two small kids was just shocking. Add in all the changes and uncertainties resulting from divorce - it was beyond overwhelming. With loving grandparents just blocks away and a neighborhood of friends we somehow kept going. What sticks in my memory was the afternoon my mom came to school to talk with my 1st grade teacher Miss White, letting her know our Dad had walked out, and she was going back to work - also as a teacher. I remember feeling so uncomfortable, and scared not knowing any other families like ours. But Miss White, like so many during those years became a saving grace that day listening and then making plans to help both of us. She gave me a special nickname "FP" for her Fairy Princess and also became a warm and encouraging friend for my mom. What started as the lonely struggle of Single mothering - eventually became network of other mothers, friends, and a caring community around us. Hope and love got us through. Hope was anchored within me as something never to give up on. Thank you Connie - What a gift you are for all of us so in need of hope. Thank you, Shannon
I am now married to a wonderful man who treats my 35 year old daughter as his own but I remember my feelings from my days as a single mom. Sad and a very scary period, even with wonderful grandparents aside me. It still hurts.
I saw you on RMS tonight. and read the the post about Franklin and laughed out loud and immediately signed up. We can all use a little hope. Here’s hoping tomorrow is a start towards a shift to sanity and empathy.
Beautiful story…and I was fortunate enough to see you on the Rachel Maddow show today. You give me hope for Ohio and for women’s reproductive rights in general.
The laziest thing in the world to be is a cynic. -  Pulitzer Prize winning author Connie Schultz
Co-sign. I love that quote now.
Just viewed your conversation with Rachel Meadow and I am so impressed with your discussion that I want to subscribe, I am a retired Army officer and have been so angry about the fact that women have never achieved equal rights in the USA, I want to see that in my lifetime before I die. Thank you, I am 77 years old and want to read all that you are fighting for and support👍🙏
I am a retired army and am 77 yrs old also and very angry about women’s rights🪖👍
Beautiful story, thank you for sharing. I was a single mom also and it was not easy !
Thank you for sharing your story. Your view into that bathroom is so beautiful and priceless. Oh, the 90's.
Meeting you this evening meant everything to me. Reading you for so many years and knowing we were close in age made me feel like your friend without ever meeting in person. Sometimes when you meet someone you have always held in high esteem can be disappointing. Not with you. I’m so happy I can again read and connect with you here💙
I see myself in your story. Even 25 years after the divorce I still carry the guilt. And yet my children are in their 40’s with loving spouses and happy homes.
When divorce hits you a week after celebrating your 31st anniversary, you still become a single parent sometimes. The kids may not live with you, but they are just as adrift. People recover, life goes on, and it becomes the past.
But that unwelcome change colors your life!
I never had the privilege of being a mom, but I have been divorced, newly single again, and now refer to it as, “one of my previous lives.” I have never regretted it, nor would I change any of the life lessons learned. Like a book, we all have chapters. I’m still writing mine. I love hearing about those of others.
Your story is so similar to mine. Same ages and I was sure I did everything wrong as a single mother for 10 years. I’m very close to my daughter and her wonderful husband and my perfect little grandson. Things work out. We were rock stars.