April 25, 2008Every once in a while I post a Single Mom S.O.S. The first time for my friend Abby who was trying to figure out how to explain a break up to her daughter and now for another single mom, Tricia. The dilemma – her ex-husband wants to fight for full-custody of their oldest son, a 9-year-old.
First some facts. Tricia is amazing. She is bubbly, light, full of optimism and loves her two boys.
Since their divorce in July she and her ex-husband have had 50/50 split custody of the kids. She says, “I didn’t fight for full custody last summer because he’s a fine father, and my father was so important to me. I want him to be very involved in their lives.”
Now, less than one year later, her son says he wants to live with his father full-time.
You can imagine the emotional pain she’s feeling right now. He’s nine and he doesn’t know any better…but still. She also says her ex-husband has been encouraging the idea.To make matters worse he is also threatening to take the fight to court.
April 21, 2008According to Nielsen, the average American watches 4 hours and 35 minutes of TV a day! When I read that stat I nearly fell out of my chair. I knew it was high, but nearly 5 hours a day! What?
I killed my TV two years ago when I left my husband. Most of his waking moments, outside of work, were spent plopped in front of the tube. Our bonding time, in turn, revolved around our favorite TV shows. And when weseparated he took the TV with him.
I never replaced it.
It wasn’t by choice. I was broke, so broke that buying a TV was completely out of the question. Now I could buy one but I won’t. Then I’d have to pay for cable. And if I had one, I know I would watch it. I’d get re-addicted to Project Runway, Desperate Housewives, anything on TLC, re-runs of Northern Exposure, Deal or No Deal…you get the idea. I loved it all. Now I can’t even remember what it’s like to watch TV every night. I don’t even know how I’d find the time.
