Today was hard. Ayva has been having some stomach problems, so she hasn’t been quite herself, and between work and taking care of her…I’m spent. A few weeks ago, I vowed to relax more. I made balance a priority so that my family could stop getting the short end of the stick when it came to me. It’s been working. I’m much more patient, and a lot less exhausted. Today, however? Honey…it was rough.

Back in the day, when I was a true single mom, tough days often turned into tough weeks because there was no down time. It didn’t matter if I was up all night with a sick child because the next morning, I’d be up bright and early getting breakfast together. Even if I was under the weather, I couldn’t take a break from Mommy Duty because there was no one else to take over. I’ve always been a single mom, so I’m used to the never-ending cycle of Mommy On Call.

Today was hard. But things are different now. Now, I have a partner in this parenting thing. During the course of the day, I called Terrence and whined. I sent text messages letting him know I was tired. I whined when he got home. And he got it. He asked me what I needed, how he could help. I told him, sort of joking, but mostly not, that I need him to stay home from work tomorrow to help me with Ayva, and he said okay.

And just then, I remember that I’m not in this thing alone anymore.

So tomorrow, Mama is sleeping in. Thank you, Jesus.