Holding it together

Who I am: Single mom who of course works and then I do go to school, and I have three kids. The ex lives over 4 hours away. I do get help sometimes from my family but I don't ask as much as maybe I should......

I belong to a group of mom's who are just the most amazing people I know! They have been nothing but supportive, understanding and just some of the best friends a girl could ask for. I have known them 5 years now. Catch is they are all online and while I have meet a good number of them in person, there are still those I just haven't. Why is this important? Well I'll tell ya.....

Recently I posted a message on our group's board about being in my last classs. I am so close! Someone replied with a statement.... "I just don't know how you have held it together." (meaning for 4 yrs, two cross countries moves, going through and getting the divorce and being a single mom.... all while going to school).

My reply was, "I hold it together with Superman band-aids."

But, it really got me thinking. I didn't think I did anything amazing or for people to respond the way they did. So much praise and "you are amazing." Am I??

I actually held it together very poorly. I almost quit so many times. I almost quit my whole life more times than I really would like to admit. But, I'm not a quitter. I don't give up easily if ever. I can admit defeat, I guess.... but it depends the battle.... So anyway, I just do what I do because I have to. It is my job. I made a commentment to my children the day I first knew they were coming (Nov 7, 1993, June 3 1995, Nov 4, 2001), that I would always do the very best I could for them. I would never give up. I would do everything I could for them if it meant putting me second. They are the only ones in the world (aside from my parents and brothers) that I would put first over me.

So how do I really hold it together? By looking at them and knowing I have no choice because they are counting on me.