“Here’s your lunch, keys, and phone. Don’t forget you have a meeting at school this afternoon.”
“What’s for dinner?”
“Roast is in the crock pot.”
“Have a good day, love you.”
“Love you too.”

“Hi honey. I’m home.”
“Good, do something with YOUR son before I kill him.”
“Ummm, can’t I even get both feet in the door and take off my coat first?”

“I want THAT stove. It cleans itself. And with all the laundry, we need the bigger washer and dryer. I like the refrigerator with the glass shelves, so I don’t have to clean the entire refrigerator out when our sons spill something.”
“Yes dear,” as I pull out my checkbook.

Typical conversations between husband and wife. . . . Except I’m a single parent and my “wife” is my teenage daughter.

Up until about two years ago, I was able to work around school schedules without the need for daycare, until I went back to work full-time – with lots of overtime. Now I work various shifts and can’t afford daycare, so my daughter has stepped in the “wife” role and takes care of the boys and keeps the house running smoothly. She makes sure that homework is done, basic housecleaning and laundry are taken care of, everyone gets fed – including the furry kids, and sometimes will pay the bills for me. She has my permission to sign her own notes and write out checks.

Along with running the house, she attends high school full time, student-teaches this semester, is on honor-roll, applying for numerous scholarships and grants, as well as spending time with her boyfriend. She doesn’t make plans without asking me first, nor does she ever say “I never get to do anything.” She understands how much she is needed and appreciated – even when it seems like I’m always working or sleeping.

Yes, we have our typical mother-daughter falling outs, complete with slamming doors, screaming, and saying things that we regret and apologize for later on. We also share a connection like most “married couples” complete with her ability to finish my sentences. And many times, when we go shopping together, many people think that we ARE a married couple – which raises eyebrows in our small farming community! Not exactly your classic, typical household, but it works for us. ~ MysticWench

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We had adopted a new dog, which Ella was not pleased about since she had been the “only” dog in the house for a long time. Ella kept Aurora confined to my daughter’s room, which suited Aurora as she just wanted a warm bed and food. I came home one day and Ella met me at the door, dancing around and grabbing my wrist, her way of saying “come see.” Ella wouldn’t wait for me to put down my purse and kept pulling me through the house like an excited kid. So I went with her to my daughter’s room, where Aurora was laying in bed with an empty tv dinner tray from the night before and a very happy look. Ella was still dancing around as if to say “look momma, she got into the trash, that’s a no-no, let’s kick her out now.” I walked to the kitchen and Ella danced all the way to the trash can, which was standing there undisturbed. It didn’t make sense to me, as Aurora had never tried to get into the trash before. Then again, Ella wouldn’t let her come out of my daughter’s room. Then I realized that: (a) the trash can was about two feet tall, (b) Aurora was only about 1 foot tall, and (c) the trash can was still standing upright. The only one tall enough to get into the trash without knocking it over, was . . . Ella. It seems that Ella had decided that if she framed Aurora, then I’d kick Aurora out. (discuss this article) ~MysticWench

Posted under Articles, Original Works