Hedreich Nichols

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Thank You For The Music II

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In May I usually think of my mom. It’s been 13 years but I still miss her. I also think about my son. He’s so much like her and our relationship reminds me of not what I lost when my mother departed this earthly realm, but what I still have. What I still have from her. This month alone I played 4 gigs with my kid bassist. On Mother’s Day we did my arrangement of Ed Sheeran’s “Supermarket Flowers”. There wasn’t a dry eye in the church. Earlier this month we performed “Sing My Song” from my CD Time Now in a trio with Steve Bessler. That song features a sample from my mom’s Stellar award winning song, “Victory”, and a sample of my then 6 year-old saying “sing mommy”, uniting three generations of my musical family. This week I had the joy of listening to my son audition for varsity orchestra with his own arrangement, an impressive mix of classical, Latin and modern literature. Watching this musician blossom makes me swell with pride, and connects me to my own momma. I know just how she felt watching me grow, excel and succeed. 

In seeing the reflection of my mom in a young, suddenly mustached face, I am reminded of what a good mom I was blessed to have. Thank you for the music, Putches.

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I Am Legend

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20160924_085158This time I opted for a movie title instead of a song title because I Am Woman just didn’t quite say it all. Parenting in any form is not for the fainthearted. For the solo mom it is nothing less than a legendary feat. No disrespect to the solo dads out there but you all have a cheering public fawning over your every youtube video just for combing hair.  DO WE NOT COMB HAIR??

In re-organizing my life to accommodate work, grad school and 330+ days of 24/7 parenting, I have discovered how amazing I really am and I’m not alone. Thirty-four percent of all households are headed by single parents and four out of five of those homes are headed by single moms. That’s a marked change when compared to the stats of even one generation ago. While the demise of the traditional nuclear family comes with challenges, there are many of us making it work gloriously in spite of having to get the car serviced, take out the trash and throw a football in work attire–usually simultaneously. Making it work takes chutzpah, moxie and a whole lot of creativity. It also takes a village (mine is so AMAZING!) so if you see a single mom, show her some love, preferably in the form of a casserole or having her car serviced!

Solo parenting is a reality for a lot of us out here and it’s a big job. But as one unnamed single mom said on social media, in each moment “there’s freedom, beauty, bravery, strength and grace”. Moms, for all you do, this post’s for you!

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