text: Is it possible for single moms to live in gratitude and be angry?
  I recently read an article about how "spiritual" people were using gratitude to suppress their anger. After all, if you are "spiritual" you live in peace constantly, right?
  That got me thinking about single moms. Living is gratitude is very important to me. Heck, I even created a book about it, complete with a year's worth of journal space.But…I have to confess that I get angry. I have been angry about a lot of things over the years.
  Not everything was about single momming…but I gotta say, there was a lot about single momming.
  I mean less face it. There's a lot to be seriously ticked off about. Here's what gets my goat on a regular basis:
  I make every decision, big and small, on my own.
  I have to make all the money.
  I have to apply all the discipline.
  I have to help with all the homework. (Even the hard classes.)
  I have to go to every doctor's appointment, dentist appointment, parent teacher conference, school event…yadda, yadda, yadda.
  I have to keep the car running.
  I have to take care of the whole house.
  I have to make sure the kids are raised!
  And that is just the tip of the iceberg of what I have to do all on my own, every day, day in; and day out. It's exhausting! It's overwhelming! And on the days I am completely honest…it seriously pisses me off.
  So how does one live in all of that and purport a sense of gratitude…not to mention spirituality? Seriously! How can that even happen? Look at that list! That stuff doesn't go away or change the entire time you are single momming. (Which is my case has been over 2 decades! Ouch!)
  At first glance, it may seem that it is not possible to be a single mom and be angry. In fact, it so seems that way that I had to really stop and question whether or not I really was grateful. So…I made a list of my gratitudes:
  I get to make every decision on my own, big and small.
  I control all the money.
  I discipline the way I believe is correct, without argument or undermining.
  I get to help with all the homework. (Even the hard classes.)
  I am present for every doctor's appointment, dentist appointment, parent teacher conference, school event…yadda, yadda, yadda.
  It's my car. I can for it the way I choose. (And I have learned A LOT!)
  My house looks the way I want. No complaints, no compromises.
  I raise my kids exactly the way I want.
  When I pause. (Which is at least every night to write in my gratitude journal.) I realize that so much about life is truly a matter of perspective. When my Mr. Right shows up, I will be happy. I will gain much, and I will give up much. I will be grateful, and my gratitude will be spiritually connecting.
  But right now, I am also grateful. I have much. I know it is absolutely possible for single moms to live in gratitude and be angry. It is possible, it is appropriate, and it is indeed quite spiritual.