On Father’s Day, We’re Making Lemonade

By Alicia Harper

This week the Father’s Day celebrations are in full force. Every store that I enter, every other commercial that I see, and every other person that I talk to, the topic of discussion is, you guessed it, Father’s Day. And rightfully so. Fathers deserve to be recognized for all that they do.

This single momma is totally cool with that.

But, earlier this week, for about 12.8 seconds, I felt a bit… uneasy.

Let me explain.

Along with Father’s Day comes the many Father’s Day art projects in Aiden’s class. (And rightfully so. They deserve to be recognized.) And along with those art projects comes the questions. From Aiden. About his other parent.

I broke up with Aiden’s other parent almost two years ago when Aiden was 2 ½ years old. I pushed (and pushed and pushed) for a co-parenting relationship for about a year after we broke up, but to no avail. So Aiden knows who his other parent is. He knows what he looks like. He even has pretty vivid memories of outings with his other parent. But… currently his other parent remains an inactive member in his life.

When Aiden starts asking questions, I try to answer them as honestly as possible in an age-appropriate way. But, still, for about 12.8 seconds I wished that Aiden’s other parent would have just left while I was pregnant. Walked out and never looked back. That way, it’d be easier to explain this situation to Aiden – Where’s your father? Oh, you know, he left ME when I was pregnant. He didn’t leave YOU because he didn’t know you. He left ME!

But it’s not like that. Aiden’s other parent is somewhere on the other side of town, living his life. And that’s fine – I’m okay with that because Aiden really does have a glorious life filled with loads of love.

But those 12.8 seconds. They really got to me.

You know what though? Aiden’s going to make those Father’s Day art projects. And I’m going to have him give it to a deserving man in his life – a positive male role model who’s been a great support in his life. Because that’s what Father’s Day is all about anyway – honoring and uplifting the men who’ve been there for us through good times and bad.

Life handed us lemons when I found myself in an abusive relationship and needed to get out for both Aiden’s and my sake. And now?

Now we’re making the best of the situation. Daily.

Now we’re seeing the glass as half full instead of half empty because perspective is everything.

Now we’re realizing just how blessed we are as a little family of two.

Now we’re taking those lemons… and making lemonade.