What's Up, Doc? The Challenges of Single Parenting

By Randall Freeman, PhD

This past week I was provided the golden opportunity of experiencing what it’s like to be a single parent. My wife and mother-in-law flew to Toronto to help our eldest daughter Daniela settle in at the University of Toronto and to reinvigorate the Canadian economy.

While they were off on their international journey, I was left with Sarah, Holly, and Megan, our brand-new high school freshmen. Easy as pie. Yeah, right. By the time Karen and her mother returned to Menifee, I was a physical and emotional wreck of a human being. I learned that being a single parent meant having no time for oneself (I was unable to attend any taekwondo classes) and no energy for anything else.

I must interject the fact that these three girls are wonderful young ladies (with a slight listening problem when Dad tells them to do or not do something). They all work diligently on school and actively participate in sports activities. They are not troublemakers of any kind.

Taking girls to scheduled practices and activities was a puzzle that required the Defense Department to figure out and implement. Throw in flash flooding and the week was absolutely incredible. The kicker:

Thursday was Back-to-School Night at Paloma Valley High School. Three daughters, one parent. I was able to recruit Karen’s cousin Brian to take Holly to her classes but that still left me with surviving Sarah’s and Megan’s classes in a time schedule intended for one student. We crisscrossed that campus so many times I don’t even remember periods 6 and 7. I was dragging to the point of not recalling much of that evening.

The event ended at 8 p.m. I ended about 7:20 p.m. I managed to drive us safely home after dropping Brian off but I have no recollection of the trip at all. I didn’t sleep that night; I fell unconscious onto my bed.

Saturday morning, I had to take Megan to a soccer game in San Clemente. The game began at 8 a.m. I had to get up at 5 a.m. and make certain that Megan did the same. At least we won, 2-0.

To all those single parents, I salute you – or I will when I recapture enough energy to raise my arm. I don’t know how you do it!

Randy Freeman and his family have lived in Menifee since 1993. Randy teaches kindergarten in Perris and his lovely wife Karen teaches first grade here in Menifee at Freedom Crest Elementary School. They are the proud parents of four beautiful daughters: Daniela, 18, and 14-year-old triplets Sarah, Holly, and Megan. Other family members include dogs Scruffy, Mikko, & Max, 17-year-old cat Hunter, and turtle Tuttles. Randy earned his PhD in early childhood education in 2011 and has served on the Menifee Union School Board since 2008. Randy has wisely decided to delete the bit about being Karen's boss in order to continue living in his happy home.