My little one 26 has a terrible cough. Tonight he was very whiney – I knew he didn’t feel great so I tucked him in next to me and hoped that with my holding him it would all be better for him by morning.

Not so easy.

20 minutes after we had fallen asleep he had a huge coughing fit which upset him so he started to cry which made the coughing worse which then led to getting sick all over himself, my bed and me.

So I scoop him up take him into my bathroom get him cleaned up, then myself, then the bed all while trying really hard not to lose it in the process. I gave him some medicine and water and puts vicks on his little chest.

Finally I was laying him down in his fresh pj’s and he hugged me and said, "thank you for helping me"

He is four years old- I know forty year olds that would never thank me so sincerely. It made me so proud that he knows gratitude and compassion already

Its not easy being a single parent, its pretty lonely most of the time but occasionally you get rewarded with a few simple words that recharge you to go back out and keep fighting your way through to make a clear path for those little lives in your care.

Well, his hand is resting on my arm as I type this and the fact that its so late and my precious few hours of rest are slipping by quickly doesn’t seem to matter – I’ll be walking on air all day tomorrow with the wonderful gift of thanks he gave me.

L