‘My mom is a parent she didn’t have to be. To kids that aren’t really hers.’: Single mom shares Mother’s Day ode to grandmoms

“As Mother’s Day approaches I want to take a moment to acknowledge the GRANDmoms.

The grandmoms of addiction.

Or, mental illness.

Or, simply single parenthood.

The grandmoms essentially co-parenting their grandchildren.

And, the grandmoms actually parenting their grandchildren.

I’m a single mom of 3.

This was not intentional nor planned.

My ex cannot parent for reasons beyond my control.

My mom, aged 55, is essentially co-parenting my kids with me.

My mom is my hero.

I could not do life without her.

Literally.

My mom picks the kids up from the babysitter after school.

My mom runs emergency money to book fairs.

My mom drops off forgotten lunches.

My mom freezes on the baseball field when two kids have two different things on the same night.

My mom buys dinners out and sends emergency Apple Pay money when I run short from paying for everything alone.

My mom.

My mom lets me sleep on the couch for a half-hour after I was up all night working.

My mom gets my kids their preferred snacks and after-school treats. Every week. She takes a list to the store.

She cooks dinner for everyone.

Every night.

I couldn’t work multiple jobs and take multiple kids to multiple places if I had to cook, too.

Because of my mom – we sit down together every night for dinner.

My mom is at every recital and communion and game.

Every graduation and awards ceremony and emergency hospital trip.

My mom is a parent she didn’t have to be.

To kids that aren’t really hers.

Addiction and mental illness robbed my children of a parent.

But my mom stepped right in.

Tired.

Weary.

Over little kids and over parenting.

She is there.

Always.

There aren’t enough words or gestures to properly thank my mom.

So on this Mother’s Day, let’s not forget the grandmoms who are there.

Even when they shouldn’t have to be.

Let’s not forget the hero’s of this too often broken world.”

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Jacqueline Waxman. Submit your own  story here and be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.

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