I’m 37 with 3 kids and I haven’t been in a relationship for 2 years! Probably not uncommon in this day and age, but are other single mothers out there having the same kind of experiences I have been having in recent weeks? Oh boy, I hope not! It’s a shark pit out here!! I feel like the next tasty meal ready to be bitten into to by the fastest, sharpest set of teeth in the ocean!! Look out heart – this is a roller coaster ride!

Well, how did this all start? There I was, happy to be a loving, single mother to my 3 beautiful children, when, what do you know, a celebrity is coming to town, and it looks like I’m gonna have the opportunity to meet him! Now this wasn’t just any celebrity – this was my childhood crush! My god, as I sat on the net and read that he was going to be on the same continent, my heart nearly jumped out of my skin!

It was a convention of sorts and there I was, ticket in hand, breaking a sweat, ready to step forward. My mind raced back to conversations with my 17 year old son about meeting the man of my 6 year old dreams (and also this uncanny desire to lift my shirt and reveal my naked breasts for him to sign). The ticket was for a photograph, and I was next, oh, and my two sons, 17 year old and 2 – the little one. While I stepped forward I thought mustn’t shame myself in front of the children, and I meekly spoke (oh so sweetly) “Can we have a photograph?”.

There he was… wow… old… but wow! My gaze was interrupted by the attendant who ushered us over to the photo booth. Waiting outside I could see him – my childhood crush – my hands began to shake, I dabbed the sweat off my brow… it was like time and space were about to stand still and behold a prodigious event, with me and him (oh and the boys) on centre stage. He looked so innocent as I stumbled in, stroller, child, bags, teenager in tow. I fumbled the little out of the stroller as it dropped under the weight of too many bags draped on the handles (all mothers understand). I wasn’t looking goofy… no… he’d ignore my undies sticking up from my jeans as I bent over to fix the mess I was making! My 17 year old, the intuitive boy that he is, foregoing his own opportunity to get in and meet one of his own idols (yes, this guy is still famous and acting today!) helps me get it all organised so I can put the little on my hip and we can get on with taking this shot. I turn around, compose myself, straighten my hair, smile sweetly, but totally avoid giving the man of my 6 year old dreams any eye contact what so ever! I was caught in the middle, actually, my little one was caught in the middle of me and my man! Pretending to be the caring mother, I sweetly asked if he would kindly stand next to my 17 year old, of course meaning that I would be right next to him and the little one on the outside!! He shifted, put his big warm arm around me, pulled me close and the shot was taken. You’ve never seen me so happy!!