Partnership (With Self) Contract

Divorced from my 1st husband, recently separated from my long time boyfriend, soon-to be- mom to a baby boy, I’d like to make a personal commitment to myself. I will be a single mother who is commited to self discovery and to furthering my joy and growth as a remarkable woman with my new best partner- me.

I agree to the following ideals:

I dont have to be a mom and dad to my son. I just need to be a loving guiding parent.

Allow myself time for my feelings to emerge has been a wonderful catharthic for me. I promise to allow a few minutes everyday to express my feelings, no matter how great or rotten I feel that day.

Never allow anyone to belittle me, and my family.

Respect myself. 

If and when I remarry, I promise to continue to nurture myself above above anyone else and not to stop growing because I am in a relationship. If I find that I cant grow because of the confines of a restrictive relationship, I will change that.

I will listen to and learn from my son as well as teach.

When people tell me how scary it must be to be a single mom, I will show them my bravery.

When people misjudge single mothers n my presence, I will educate them to the truths.

When people questions the legitimacy of children whose birth certificates dont bear a man’s signature, I will correct them gently but pointedly.

Within the next three months, I will have chosen “journaling” as an outlet with which to explore myself more fully. Graphic Illustration, and Yoga are two other interests I would like to continue to pursue.

In the course of raising myself and my son, I have learned that this is not a transition time until another husband or father for my son comes along, but rather a time that encourages me to deal with the here and now. The task is not so much to get through each day, but rather to appreciate the joy in the process. To that end, I agree to the above commitments which has no specific time goals, but I agree to begin this journey with myself starting today (November 17th, 2007).