WELCOME TO MY WORLD — as a Single Busy Mommy, living in the Bay Area (and in bed every night around midnight, regardless how hard I try to turn in earlier). I adopted my beautiful little J from Vietnam when she was 8 months old and it’s been just us two ever since. I work full time in the communications field, am single (though not looking or dating, as there is no time in my life for either). But to be totally honest? If I had to choose between organizing a closet so it’s more functional vs. going on a date, hands down, the closet wins.
My weeks fly by as do the weekends and the years that I feel I can barely remember because every time I turn around it seems I am getting out Christmas decorations and planning a birthday party. The best gift any one could ever give me—ever—is cleaning my house and putting everything away (this includes the clean laundry sitting in a basket on top of the dryer and the dishes in the dishwasher).
The second I get up in the morning until I go to bed I am “on” cleaning, putting away, cooking, doing homework with J, downloading photos from the phone, paying bills, it’s an endless runaway train of chores that never get done. As a Single Busy Mommy, one has to get used to going to bed with clothing hanging out of the drawers, light bulbs that need replacing, and a litter box that needs scooping and just be okay with it all.
We have more than 5 cats, less than 8 and I get teased about this constantly as well as asked “How many cats do you have now?” I will refrain from the obvious nickname I hate being called for the simple reason that if there were homeless starving dogs showing up at my door I’d be feeding them, too.
Yep, I love to cook. Worse. I love to eat what I cook. I Tweet for animals, never have enough time, am late everywhere I go, and I hate being late! I’m clumsy and drop everything, break everything and I’m resourceful like you wouldn’t believe, though every single mother is. For example, I never leave a room empty-handed, something is always getting put back. It’s amazing what you can get accomplished by just walking into another room.
Though, sometimes, in spite of keeping all of the balls in the air for the most part on a daily basis, I just lose my shxt. I am overworked, under-slept (usually it’s my own fault, though who wants to go to bed when your little one is finally down and you have “me” time?) and, well, as my family members will attest, this Single Busy Mommy is exasperated much of the time.
My daughter and I scream at the top of our lungs when we are good and fed up with life to let it all out. This is allowed in our house. So is anger (how we express it, ummm we work on that) as sometimes big deep breaths just doesn’t do it. And no one is in trouble for having an accident, you drop it and break it? No prob-lama…
I paint, draw, love to create. I love to travel, art, fashion, fixing up the house and I secretly fantasize about my figure skating Gold Medal Long Program win at the Olympics…
I am obsessed with water, pools, and really clear—anything. I love simple pleasures such as a chaise lounge, Ray Bans, a sunny blue sky day, an icy drink, and a New Yorker (any month, any year) with Brazilian music playing in the background (my nectar)… something I rarely get the chance to do.
How do I get everything done, from cooking from scratch (because it’s healthier and tastes better), and cleaning with natural ingredients like baking soda and Borax (they do everything!), to getting travel in, having time to play the board game “Sorry” with J, hosting multiple little friend sleepovers, and feeding the ferals (after getting them fixed, of course)?
Big sigh… I don’t know. But I can tell you, I hate this comment: “I don’t know how you do it.” Actually, people have stopped asking me this since I just do.
Pull up a chaise lounge, get your icy glass of sparkling water with a squeeze of lemon (don’t forget to wash that peel before you drop it in, freeze it afterward, and then throw it in a NutriBullet for a major anti-oxidant power shot!) and read on.
Here’s how I do it, from how I feed my picky eater and handle the middle school drama (yep, we’re there), to how I make the perfect salad, and, well, just …survive.
If I can do it, you can do it.
XO
Single Busy Mommy 
I have a red binder!!!