Tonight I answered the question, "In what ways are you strange?" and thought I'd share my answer here. This is what I wrote:
I'm a single work-at-home lesbian college student and mom of three kids whom I homeschool, and I drive a 17-year-old multicolored car with 260,000 miles and over 40 bumper stickers on it. I'm an eclectic nontheistic Taoist Pagan with Buddhist leanings and I attend a UU church every other Sunday (and lead the children's religious education program). I had an amicable divorce and my ex and I remained friends for a couple years afterward. There are currently 3 dogs and 17 cats in my house (10 of the cats are fosters). I volunteer at the animal shelter on a daily basis, and I'll be graduating with my Bachelor's degree 16 years after I graduated from high school. All the AP gentle parenting stuff, though with all the online support and the kids growing older, it doesn't really seem strange anymore. I can sometimes hear people's thoughts before they speak, I sometimes dream of future events before they happen, I often know who's calling on the phone without caller ID, and I've had contact with bodiless spirits. I'm learning and loving Tarot. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I love being a single mom and don't feel that my lot in life is unfair. My hair grows abnormally fast. There's more, but this is getting really long.
Tonight is the eve of the winter solstice, Yule. Tonight we sang carols and read solstice stories while watching the sunset, then came home and the little ones watched Little Bear's winter solstice, while Marian wrapped presents, and I made our Favorites dinner. After dinner we finished watching Night at the Museum (that we started yesterday), and then each opened one small gift while having our hot chocolate. I read them some wintery books and sent them to bed.
Tomorrow we'll eat breakfast in the car while watching the sunrise (with lots of singing and storytelling) if the roads aren't too bad. Otherwise we'll sing to the sun from the porch. Then stockings and gifts, then the making of gingerbread house and people, then lunch at Chili's. Naptime, some family rituals, and a lot of playing it by ear will follow.
Some Yuletide Carols:
GOD REST YE MERRY PAGANFOLK
Oh rest ye merry, paganfolk,
Let nothing you dismay.
Remember that the Sun returns
Upon this Solstice day.
The growing dark is ending now
And Spring is on its way.
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy!
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy.
Mother Nature rest ye merry, too,
And keep you safe from harm.
Remember that we live within
The circle of Her arms,
And may Her love give years to come
A very special charm.
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy!
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy!
SHARE THE LIGHT
Tune: The First Noel
On this Winter holiday, let us stop and recall
That this season is holy to one and to all.
Unto some a Son is born, unto us comes a Sun,
And we know, if they don't that all paths are one.
Chorus:
Share the light, share the light!
Share the light, share the Light!
All paths are one on this holy night!
Be it Chanukah or Yule,
Christmas time or Solstice night,
All celebrate the eternal light.
Lighted tree or burning log,
Or eight candle flames.
All paths are one, whatever their names.
DECK THE HALLS
Traditional
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa la la la la la la la la
Tis the season to be jolly
Fa la la la la la la la la
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa la la la la la la la la
Troll the ancient Yuletide carols
Fa la la la la la la la la
See the blazing Yule before us
Fa la la la la la la la la
Strike the harp and join the chorus
Fa la la la la la la la la
Follow me in merry measure
Fa la la la la la la la la
While I tell of Yuletide treasure
Fa la la la la la la la la
Fast away the old year passes
Fa la la la la la la la la
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses
Fa la la la la la la la la
Sing we joyous all together
Fa la la la la la la la la
Heedless of the wind and weather
Fa la la la la la la la la
Deck the Halls precedes Christianity, but the other two are borrowed tunes. I figure it's a nice trade when pagans share their decorations and Christians share their melodies. We have more carols that we sing, some original and some borrowed tunes, but the rest aren't easily accessible to copy and paste.
Happy Winter Solstice! I'll try to remember to take pictures tomorrow, but if I don't it because I was too caught up in the here and now to worry about capturing images for the future.
Showing posts with label single mom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label single mom. Show all posts
Friday, December 21, 2007
Thursday, November 1, 2007
A Damn Full Day
Today was all about the kids. I've been having a hard time balancing everything in my life lately, and felt the need to drop most of it and give the kids my all today. We had a lovely time at the animal shelter, read more books than I can remember, worked on all kinds of homeschooling stuff, fed kittens, talked and talked and talked and laughed and laughed and laughed some more. I swung them in circles through the air, I chased them, they chased me, we played games, we watched kittens romp, we dreamed. We made lots of memories on Sophie's last day as a three-year-old.
After they went to bed, I got all of my studying done for the day, and surpassed my writing goal for my first day of NaNoWriMo. I know I may seem insane to take on this challenge of writing at least 50,000 words of a novel in the next month, but this is for ME. And after finishing today's goal, I felt energized and excited. (No, not THAT way.) Although I do have to admit that my intended wholesome and family-oriented young adult novel has somehow morphed into a lesbian romance.
The first duty of a revolutionary is to get away with it.
- Abbie Hoffman
After they went to bed, I got all of my studying done for the day, and surpassed my writing goal for my first day of NaNoWriMo. I know I may seem insane to take on this challenge of writing at least 50,000 words of a novel in the next month, but this is for ME. And after finishing today's goal, I felt energized and excited. (No, not THAT way.) Although I do have to admit that my intended wholesome and family-oriented young adult novel has somehow morphed into a lesbian romance.
The first duty of a revolutionary is to get away with it.
- Abbie Hoffman
Monday, October 29, 2007
Where am I?
I feel like I've been dropped on another planet in an alternate universe. This month everything has changed. My present has changed dramatically, my future looks very different, and even my past doesn't seem the same. I know someday I will look back on this time and I hope I will take pride in the fact that I made the right decisions; I have a lot of life-changing decisions to make, some of which will affect others considerably. Please let me make the right choices.
I'm doing the best I can.
I sometimes feel I should be angrier with him. But I have enough going on in my life without adding an extra negative and draining emotion to the mix, so alongside the sorrow and disappointment, I feel compassion instead of anger. He's going to lose everything. This is the life that my family and I thought we'd saved him from, and it turns out that nobody could save him from himself. It's very humbling and disheartening.
He is such a sad and angry and miserable person, and I'd never want to be in his shoes. As hard as my road is right now, I'd still choose it over his any day. At least I'm surrounded by love and light and laughter and learning and goodness and beauty.
I'm doing the best I can.
I sometimes feel I should be angrier with him. But I have enough going on in my life without adding an extra negative and draining emotion to the mix, so alongside the sorrow and disappointment, I feel compassion instead of anger. He's going to lose everything. This is the life that my family and I thought we'd saved him from, and it turns out that nobody could save him from himself. It's very humbling and disheartening.
He is such a sad and angry and miserable person, and I'd never want to be in his shoes. As hard as my road is right now, I'd still choose it over his any day. At least I'm surrounded by love and light and laughter and learning and goodness and beauty.
Friday, October 12, 2007
New Moon and New Path
Pagans and astrologers know that important activities are best begun just after the New Moon. While I didn't plan it this way, I've ended up on just such a path. Last night was the new moon; after a shocking and scary day, I gazed up at the dark sky and its deepness helped me to let my fear go. I fell asleep visualizing security, stability, and money. (How spiritual of me, no?)
Life is changing and I am taking on the challenge of becoming a creative entrepreneur in order to hang onto the crazy beautiful life my little family has. So entertwined with homeschooling that they cannot be separated, this sweet and full family life is fully capable of expanding to include these new endeavors. I'm thinking positive, laughing and smiling with the kids, and hanging on tight for this wild ride.
And on a more matter-of-fact note, if anyone has any ideas for how to increase my earned income by at least $600 a month while still homeschooling, feel free to post them here. I have a long brainstorming list going and am tackling items one by one. :)
Life is changing and I am taking on the challenge of becoming a creative entrepreneur in order to hang onto the crazy beautiful life my little family has. So entertwined with homeschooling that they cannot be separated, this sweet and full family life is fully capable of expanding to include these new endeavors. I'm thinking positive, laughing and smiling with the kids, and hanging on tight for this wild ride.
And on a more matter-of-fact note, if anyone has any ideas for how to increase my earned income by at least $600 a month while still homeschooling, feel free to post them here. I have a long brainstorming list going and am tackling items one by one. :)
Monday, January 23, 2006
Happy Anniversary to Me
I've been a single mom for one year today.
I love, love, love, LOVE my life! I love homeschooling my kids, I love my job, I love my community, I love my gym membership, I love my car, I love my house, I lovc it all. I love my life.
I love, love, love, LOVE my life! I love homeschooling my kids, I love my job, I love my community, I love my gym membership, I love my car, I love my house, I lovc it all. I love my life.
Monday, January 9, 2006
55 Reasons I Love Being A Single Mom
Why I Love Being a Single Mom of Three
1. I can parent however I want.
2. I can watch whatever movies I want.
3. No adults yell at me in my own home.
4. I don’t have to cater to an adult who is a pickier eater than any of my three children.
5. I never have to watch sports.
6. I don’t have to stop normal life to prepare for the 5pm arrival of Him.
7. The king-size bed is plenty big for all four of us when they all pile in.
8. I feel so empowered knowing that I replaced the broken phone jack, lit the pilot light on the water heater, hung the shelves, got the kitchen window to close, etc, etc, etc. Installing a light fixture is next on my list. :)
9. Nobody thinks my beliefs are dumb.
10. My kids know that girls can use tools and fix things, too.
11. My kids aren’t seeing a poor example of what a marriage (theoretically) can be.
12. I never have to listen to AC/DC.
13. I never have to suck in my stomach.
14. There are no adult skidmarks in my laundry hamper.
15. I can make my house a home without having to compromise my decorating style.
16. The kids and I can embrace our spirituality and practice un-self-consciously whenever we want.
17. I choose how the money is spent.
18. No snoring to keep me awake.
19. No nasty beard hairs in the sink.
20. Nobody ever leaves the toilet seat up.
21. We sing all the time with nobody getting annoyed.
22. I can fully focus on my children and myself, without throwing marriage into the mix.
23. I never feel guilty for spending my evenings on the computer.
24. I don’t have to share my closet or dresser.
25. The only clothes on my bedroom floor are mine.
26. Nobody leaves piles of catalogs or tools on the kitchen counter.
27. If the trash is full or the dishes are not washed, I have nobody to blame but myself.
28. Nobody cares that my pits and legs are hairy.
29. Everyone in my home is cherished and respected.
30. I can listen to whatever music suits my mood.
31. Nobody changes my seat and mirror positions in my car.
32. I’m not lonely anymore.
33. My kids have a happy mom.
34. I never have to listen to somebody else yell at my children.
35. I never feel guilty for not wanting to have sex.
36. I never have to watch another violent movie.
37. No in-laws.
38. I can have as many cats as I want.
39. Anytime the kids find an injured animal or bring home a stray, I can say “yes”.
40. I can laugh when dinner burns instead of being afraid.
41. I almost never feel fat, even though I am.
42. We can cultivate our own traditions without anyone mocking them.
43. I make all my own decisions. My life is my own.
44. My children have a happy dad who enjoys his time with them, instead of an angry dad who is perpetually burnt-out and either ignoring them or yelling at them.
45. Nobody second-guesses my decisions.
46. My children’s dad is now my friend instead of my foe.
47. My children will grow up to respect women.
48. I almost never have to clean out the passenger seat of my car.
49. I can change and grow as much as I want.
50. I never cry myself to sleep anymore.
51. There will never be any guns in my home.
52. I never have to say, “I wish I could ____, but my husband won’t let me/doesn’t like it.”
53. My kids are growing up in a happy home.
54. I am overflowing with self-respect, self-worth, independence, happiness, and love.
55. Why the hell was I married to a man anyway? I’m a lesbian!
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1. I can parent however I want.
2. I can watch whatever movies I want.
3. No adults yell at me in my own home.
4. I don’t have to cater to an adult who is a pickier eater than any of my three children.
5. I never have to watch sports.
6. I don’t have to stop normal life to prepare for the 5pm arrival of Him.
7. The king-size bed is plenty big for all four of us when they all pile in.
8. I feel so empowered knowing that I replaced the broken phone jack, lit the pilot light on the water heater, hung the shelves, got the kitchen window to close, etc, etc, etc. Installing a light fixture is next on my list. :)
9. Nobody thinks my beliefs are dumb.
10. My kids know that girls can use tools and fix things, too.
11. My kids aren’t seeing a poor example of what a marriage (theoretically) can be.
12. I never have to listen to AC/DC.
13. I never have to suck in my stomach.
14. There are no adult skidmarks in my laundry hamper.
15. I can make my house a home without having to compromise my decorating style.
16. The kids and I can embrace our spirituality and practice un-self-consciously whenever we want.
17. I choose how the money is spent.
18. No snoring to keep me awake.
19. No nasty beard hairs in the sink.
20. Nobody ever leaves the toilet seat up.
21. We sing all the time with nobody getting annoyed.
22. I can fully focus on my children and myself, without throwing marriage into the mix.
23. I never feel guilty for spending my evenings on the computer.
24. I don’t have to share my closet or dresser.
25. The only clothes on my bedroom floor are mine.
26. Nobody leaves piles of catalogs or tools on the kitchen counter.
27. If the trash is full or the dishes are not washed, I have nobody to blame but myself.
28. Nobody cares that my pits and legs are hairy.
29. Everyone in my home is cherished and respected.
30. I can listen to whatever music suits my mood.
31. Nobody changes my seat and mirror positions in my car.
32. I’m not lonely anymore.
33. My kids have a happy mom.
34. I never have to listen to somebody else yell at my children.
35. I never feel guilty for not wanting to have sex.
36. I never have to watch another violent movie.
37. No in-laws.
38. I can have as many cats as I want.
39. Anytime the kids find an injured animal or bring home a stray, I can say “yes”.
40. I can laugh when dinner burns instead of being afraid.
41. I almost never feel fat, even though I am.
42. We can cultivate our own traditions without anyone mocking them.
43. I make all my own decisions. My life is my own.
44. My children have a happy dad who enjoys his time with them, instead of an angry dad who is perpetually burnt-out and either ignoring them or yelling at them.
45. Nobody second-guesses my decisions.
46. My children’s dad is now my friend instead of my foe.
47. My children will grow up to respect women.
48. I almost never have to clean out the passenger seat of my car.
49. I can change and grow as much as I want.
50. I never cry myself to sleep anymore.
51. There will never be any guns in my home.
52. I never have to say, “I wish I could ____, but my husband won’t let me/doesn’t like it.”
53. My kids are growing up in a happy home.
54. I am overflowing with self-respect, self-worth, independence, happiness, and love.
55. Why the hell was I married to a man anyway? I’m a lesbian!
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