Happy Mother's Day to Single Moms!

Mothers are extraordinary creatures. They cherish their children and think of little besides their security, contentment and success, put their own desires on hold, and give all that is humanly possible. They sacrifice the bodies of their youth and a simple life of self-centered pursuits.

Regardless of the constant work, exhaustion and worry, mothers still invest every ounce of their energy and emotion into the job of raising their children. The rewards for their self-sacrifice are gray hair, guilt about not doing the job perfectly, being taken for granted, and, ultimately, an empty nest.

Ironically, if asked to do it again, most would do so in a heartbeat--their baby's goodnight kisses, toddler's small hand in theirs, and teenager's laughter and excitement at life's unfolding, all sweet compensation.

Single moms have a particularly tough road, especially if they don't have family help. Often they have to work in addition to full time mothering and home keeping, and some have to work two jobs. They have to be mother and father, offering both the soft shoulder and necessary boundaries, and they can't play Disneyland Dad because their kids must stay grounded and secure.

They walk a delicate line--how to protect their children and when to allow them to experience truth, and unlike Disneyland Dad, who is often treated with kid gloves, the single mom must absorb the negative feelings that her children are likely to have as the result of divorce. She is the easy target because the children know she will always be there for them.

Single mothers are particularly amazing--true unsung heroes. Without showing the fear that often darkens their world, they must find the strength, endurance and courage to carry out their awesome responsibility alone and in an environment that is complicated, costly, unsupportive and even hostile.

There is help, however. Read The Single Mother's Book: A Practical Guide to Managing Your Children, Career, Home, Finances and Everything Else by Joan Anderson (Peachtree Publishers) and Going It Alone: Meeting the Challenges of Being a Single Mom by Michele Howe (Hendrickson Publishers). Visit www.singlemothers.org, www.parenting.ivillage.com, and www.singleparents.about.com for excellent resources, information and support while accomplishing nobly the most important job of all.

Take time to celebrate, single moms. You've earned it and even if your children don't understand or even appreciate all you've done yet, one day they will.