Xavy & Mom

Single Mom Survival: Week of Self-Sabotage So, yesterday was about the hesitation that creeps in when we start something new. Today, let’s dive into what happens after – when things inevitably go sideways, or when we just plain make a mistake. Ah, the perfect playground for our inner critic! For me, when I mess up – say, I forget a deadline for one of my jobs (cue mini-heart attack) or I totally burn dinner (again!) – my internal dialogue can

Single Mom Survival: Week of Self-Sabotage It’s Monday, and let’s be real, Mondays can feel like a fresh start… or a fresh pile of laundry, depending on how you look at it. This week, I wanted to reflect about something I think we all wrestle with: self-sabotage. Yep, that sneaky little voice in our heads that seems determined to trip us up, especially when we’re trying something new. For me, starting something new – whether it’s picking up an extra

Dancing in the Dark: A Week in the Life The one thing I’m putting off because I’m not sure how it will turn out is migrating to Australia. My older sister, her husband, and kids moved there back in 2010, and she’s been my biggest cheerleader, constantly urging me to join them. She paints this beautiful picture of a better life, more opportunities for Xavy, and a support system that would ease my burdens. Logically, it makes sense. Financially, she’s

Dancing in the Dark: A Week in the Life You know, it’s interesting. At work, there have been several times when big decisions were made, and I wasn’t privy to all the details. Maybe there were restructuring plans I wasn’t informed about, or confidential discussions about a new menu. Honestly? Most of the time, it didn’t bother me. I truly believe you don’t need to know every single thing happening around you. Of course, if it’s something that directly impacts

Dancing in the Dark: A Week in the Life For me, “dancing in the dark” isn’t some romantic notion. It’s the everyday reality of moving forward even when you can’t see the full picture. It’s showing up for my shifts even when I’m exhausted and worried about bills. It’s helping Xavy with his homework even when my brain feels like mush. It’s putting on a brave face and trying to be present, even when the weight of responsibility feels heavy.

Dancing in the Dark: A Week in the Life If I’m being completely honest, there’s a big, hazy cloud hanging over my head right now, and it’s shaped like a graduation cap. Xavy is only twelve, but those years fly by, don’t they? My biggest uncertainty, the thing that keeps me up at night sometimes, is his future education. Will I be financially able to send him to a good university? The cost of everything just keeps going up, and

Dancing in the Dark: A Week in the Life Looking back, a real turning point for me was when I decided to end things with Xavy’s dad. It wasn’t some grand, dramatic exit, more like a slow realization that the path we were on wasn’t leading anywhere good. When I found out about his… indiscretion with his second cousin, it felt less like a movie scene and more like a heavy weight settling in my stomach. I was 30, Xavy

Dancing in the Dark: A Week in the Life Being a mom, especially to a soon-to-be teenager like Xavy, means constantly encountering the great unknown. What’s going on in that head of his? What are the latest trends I’m completely oblivious to? What’s really behind that sigh and eye-roll? Sometimes, not knowing the answers to these Xavy-related mysteries can actually be… okay. I remember when Xavy was younger, around seven or eight. He suddenly became super interested in a particular