Michelle jones

The best part of what has occurred this last year with the pandemic is that I had a chance to spend more time with my son. Mathew is in the 9th grade. I am an active parent and am currently a co-president of the PTO Council. I have lived in Shaker since 2013. If I could do it all again I would prepare mentally for the long haul of being homebound for this period of time. Covid affected me in a way that I didn't expect because people I know have died and it showed me just how vulnerable we all are to things that we have no control over. This past year I've been most fearful of not being here to finish raising my son.

I think about how scary it is to be one parent and know that if I wasn’t around, no one is able to do what I do with him. No one will love him more than me.

Overall being a single parent has taught me how strong I am. I became a mom older in life and as he ages, of course so do I. I don’t take things for granted. I try to make sure that I am healthy and that I instill the values into my son that he needs in life.

I cringe on Fathers Day, we do celebrate his father figures but situations like that seem harder for me than it does for him. Families are all different and I explain that to him, it doesn't have to be a mom and a dad with two kids and a pet. I don’t feel that much like a single parent thanks to “The Grands”, what we call my parents who are literally my next door neighbors and have always been supportive. It is important to remember that you are separate from your child and to include “ me time” into your life.