Growing up with a single mom is not only hairy for the kids, but is also takes a toll on mom's "needs." My mom was old school. I never had one of her "friends" or dates kicking his feet up under our table at dinner. No midnight "booty calls" where mom told us kids, "Get back in bed, that doorbell ringing is not for you!" I never woke up in the morning with another man brushing his teeth in our bathroom, nor some dude sipping morning coffee and reading the paper at the breakfast nook.
My mom was not a cheap date either but rather, a reasonable one. She'd tell fellas, "You don't have to spend a lot of money on me. We can go get a burger, picnic at the beach, play two handed bridge (the card game) in the park. There's only one thing ya' gotta do... pay for the babysitter. If you can't do that, don't bother." Mom obviously had needs. And when my brothers and I weren't going to church supported sleep-away camps, help just seemed to show up. One day "Aunt" Sadie would take us to the beach. Next it's "Aunt" Evelyn bowling with us. Then "Aunt" Alice would swoop us over to the museum. These trips were sprinkled throughout the summer.
Two weeks during the summer with grandparents in Virgina was the norm, with God-parents keeping us for two weeks at a time in Texas and Ohio. Many of these trips meant my mom driving down, dropping us off, and then coming back to pick us up usually with one of our "aunties" tagging along for the ride.
Now during those two week stints I have no idea if my mom dated, went out or what. But mom needed a break and friends and family stepped up. So if you have no kids or need a playmate to keep your only child busy ... step up. It's only a couple of weeks and hey, it's summertime!
We all have our "needs!"