Being a single mom isn’t about what you lack—it’s about showing your children every day that love, resilience, and determination can build a life worth living. I didn’t fully grasp this until I was living it, day after day, learning as I went.

When my marriage ended, it felt like everything I had known was pulled out from under me. Suddenly, I was not just dealing with my own grief, but I had children depending on me to provide stability, comfort, and love. I was terrified. How would I make it all work? How would I give them everything they needed while navigating my own heartbreak and exhaustion? The weight of responsibility was overwhelming, and there were nights I cried myself to sleep, unsure of how to move forward.

But as time passed, I started to see things differently. I realized that what my children needed most wasn’t perfection—it was my love, my presence, and my commitment to make the best life possible for them. Sure, I didn’t have all the answers, and some days felt like I was barely keeping it together, but I showed up. I showed up even when I didn’t feel strong, even when I was tired, and even when I was afraid.

I started teaching them that life isn’t about what you have; it’s about how you handle what comes your way. When things got hard, I didn’t give up—I found a way through it, no matter how difficult. I learned to show them that resilience isn’t about avoiding failure, but about picking yourself up every time you fall.

Being a single mom hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It’s shaped me in ways I never expected, and I know it’s shaping them too. Through every challenge, every laugh, every tear, I’m teaching them the value of love, resilience, and determination—the qualities that make a life worth living, no matter the circumstances.

At the end of the day, my children don’t see me as someone who’s “lacking” or missing anything. They see a mom who loves them fiercely, works hard for them, and shows them that no matter what life throws at you, you have the strength to build something beautiful from it. And to me, that’s the greatest gift I can give them.