How do you do it? I couldn’t imagine being a single mom? I don’t know how you do it! Having been a single mother for about five years now, I’ve gotten these responses and more. Being a young mother has only intensified other’s fascination with how I’ve been able to secure a job, take care of my child, and graduate from college.

Balancing a career and motherhood has not come easy, and it’s a choice. I choose every morning to get up and go to work. I have chosen to educate myself and graduate from college. I have chosen to bust my butt in my job. I have to be ON so much at work that when I get home I often don’t want to talk, and just want to curl up in my bed and forget about the world. But, I choose not to do that, to cook dinner and talk with my daughter about her day. To dance in the kitchen before bed. To sit together and do her homework, to pride her and encourage her, to teach her. I have an amazing little girl, who I am so blessed to Mother, and as exhausted as I can be, it’s my responsibility to help her become the best she can be. So I’ve had to ask for help from close friends and family. Being a single mother, so much lands on my shoulders, and I’m never without my daughter, which can be very stressful. I’ve started walking to work when I can, which is 3-4 times a week. The 30 minute walk helps me process, helps me re-focus, and prepares me for the day. That is my me time. There has to be some balance in having a career and raising a family, and we all have to figure out how to decompress and allow time for ourselves to recharge.

I hope you all tune into the season premiere of the reality show Mary Mary, on Thursday, December 6^th at 10|9c as they tackle such issues as balancing motherhood and raising a family.

Does your life feel like a reality TV show sometimes? Tell us about it!

It’s situations like these that the three-time Grammy® award-winning gospel duo Erica and Tina Campbell face in Season 2 of WE tv’s hit series Mary Mary as they balance being recording artists, mothers, and wives. MARY MARY premieres Thursday, December 6 at 10|9c and moves to its regular timeslot on Thursdays at 9|8c, beginning December 13. Watch a sneak peek here!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of WE tv. The opinions and text are all mine.

I’ve always had high expectations of myself. Being where I’m at has never been good enough. I’m insatiable. Perfectionist? No. Over achiever? Gosh yes. These expectations drastically increased once I became someone’s Mom. Increased again once I became a solo parent. I am still trying to understand my place as a single mother, co-parenting with someone I once loved. He and I were such an unexpected match, a beautiful disaster if you will. I craved him. And now, being in his presence embarrasses me. You live and you learn and you love and you fall out of love. But, when a child is created from that once blissful warm union things tend to get tricky…dangerous even.

I have no intention of being a nasty coparent, though I do admit that I am a ferocious emotional creature. This is who I am and I’ve accepted it and am working on reigning in my emotions. Motherhood has been nothing but an adventure that I’ve gladly strapped myself in for, lifted my hands in the air, and enjoyed. Co-parenting on the other hand…I greatly dislike it. It tends to bring out the worst in me (my fault), nothing nothing nothing could prepare me for what occurred early this year when my daughter came home and told me she had a baby sister.

Lil Mama: Mommy I have a baby sister.

Me: What? No you don’t, I’m not pregnant!

Lil Mama: No Mommy, Daddy has a baby. I have a baby sister.

Me: Whaatt? No, no, he doesn’t have another baby silly.

Lil Mama: Yes, yes he does, I met her!

Me: (silence)

I…I…broke down. Drowning, I felt I was drowning, gulping down mouthfuls of water. I was not prepared. I have not been able to stomach talking with my daughter about this new addition to her father’s family. Perhaps it’s because he and I are going head to head, perhaps it’s because I don’t want to accept it. This is someone I was in love with, shared a bed with, created a child with. Perhaps I’m not woman enough to get over my bitterness. But I am woman enough to admit I don’t know how to handle this situation. When she brings up this baby I am either silent or change the topic quick, fast, and in a hurry.

Digging deeper I think I’m trying to protect my daughter and myself. I’m not being selfish, but this isn’t just about my daughter, it’s about me as well. Because I am the one who once again has to clean up the mess. I have to answer the questions she asks. This new addition was sprung on her, no conversations were had, and I’m livid he wasn’t man enough to inform me so I could talk with her about it. I think a lot about what her views on her Father are, and men in general. I DON’T want her to think that his behavior is the norm – that this is what men are all about. But, how can I make her think any different when she adores him?

How can I protect her from men like her own Father?

Another weekend that came and went in the blink of an eye. I had hoped the weather would clear up it, but it was pretty rainy in our neck of the woods, and Lil Mama’s Baseball practice was cancelled which was a bummer, but we didn’t let the rain ruin the weekend!

Highlights:
We celebrated my niece’s 3^rd birthday party which was Princess themed. My daughter dressed up like Princess Tiana and had the dress, tiara, shoes, gloves, and purse. Too bad she only kept it clean an hour! My sister is the ultimate hostess and threw a beautiful party, we had a great time! That’s my niece in the Belle costume, such a cutie!!

I’m obsessed with going to the arts & crafts store! I always find great deals in our local store Michaels, and this weekend was no exception.

Though the rain was a bit messy, we went out and luckily didn’t get blown away…though I think that was my daughter’s goal! She kept on raising my umbrella high in the sky and saying, “Mommy, I’m going up up and away like Mary Poppins!” Much to her dismay she stayed on the ground

Now it’s back to work grind mode. I’ve been working since I was 15; you would think I’d be used to getting up on Monday for the week, but nope. I yell, I curse, and I growl lol. Not, not, not a morning person.

How was your weekend?

Oh how I loooove long weekends. I was counting down the hours at work on Friday ready to be set FREE! Lil Mama and I didn’t have any plans for the weekend, so we picked up and left for NYC. You see, I like a schedule; I like consistency so this spontaneous trip was seriously out of my comfort zone. But, it was to see my boo in the big apple so I went with it…and I’m glad I did, we had a ball, as we always do in NYC.

The weather was sunny and warm and Saturday was crazy muggy – but better than a weekend full of rain. We spent the majority of the weekend outdoors taking in the sites and taking advantage of all the great memorial weekend activities.

Highlights:
We took a ferry over to Governor’s Island and explored the historic island. There was music, crafts, and bike riding. We got a little too close to the water and got splashed!

We love love love the Night at the Museum movies so I was psyched to bring lil mama to the American Museum of Natural History. She got really excited seeing some of the same things in the museum from the movie.

I had my *first* Coldstone experience. And I WILL be going back!!

Random subway dancing at the end of the day made everyone smile.

My weekend trips to NY have been great – but I’m glad to be home. It’s a beautifully dirty city; I wanted to shower in hand sanitizer haha. But the food, oh the fooood in NYC will have me going back in a heartbeat.

That’s my weekend wrap-up. Do share your weekend highlights!!

I’m ready for Summer.