An American Woman

Single mother. Wow! There are many of us. It just happens. With the American divorce rate at 44%, it's NOT too uncommon. Nonetheless, any newly divorced mother still will stand shell-shocked. The emotional and practical toll are life shattering. As for me, it happened in my late thirties. Here I was, seemingly riding a wave of remarkable achievements. We had two successful teaching careers, two wonderful elementary school boys, a settled spot in the community, a newly built home.... When the balloon burst, just what was I to do? For a mother, the personal emotional loss will always come secondary to the immediate practical challenges of housing and income to raise the family.