Before I was a single mama, there were things I wouldn’t (and thought couldn’t) do…  But, when you’re pulling double duty as Mama and “Man of the House,” there are times you don’t have a choice.

I thought I’d share a list of my accomplishments, and some things I have overcome over the past two years:

• Dead Mouse Disposal: My daughter spotted a very dead mouse in the yard.  Afraid the dog would grab it, I swiftly removed it with the pooper-scooper.  Fling!  Into the back treeline it went.  I admit, I screamed like a girl when I flung it.  That’s okay.  I am a girl.
• Spider, Moth and Praying Mantis Removal: My parents regale their friends with tales of my sister’s and my blood-curdling screams as teenagers, at any given hour that we’d spot a spider or centipede.  I can now swipe, squish and flush a spider while proclaiming “See? There’s nothing to be afraid of!” to my kids.  We have used a variety of tupperware containers to capture and release a variety of flying critters as well. I haven’t come across a centipede in my house yet, and let’s hope I don’t.  Those will always give me the willies.
• Storm Door Handle Repair: Allow me to say that handle has fallen off regularly for about 8 years.  A number of people have tried a number of repair methods, but it was my frustration that led to gluing it on with Gorilla Glue.  It hasn’t budged in about a year now!
• Clogged Washing Machine Bailing: A tiny sock slipped over the tub and into the drain.  I saw water rising fast and could only think of my drywalled basement ceiling below it.  An old Tupperware pitcher and several trips to the sink, followed by a call to the repairman did the trick.
• Leaking Roof in the Baby’s Closet at 10 p.m. on a Saturday Night: Upon arriving home on a rainy, rainy night, I heard “Drip!  Drip!  Drip!” coming from my son’s closet.  He was at his dad’s.  The solution?  Large metal bowl.  Tears. Martini.  Bed.  (Next day, dehumidifier in closet, and a call to the repairman.)
• Leaking Dishwasher: Tears.  No martini this time… It was morning. Botched diagnosis, wrong part(s) and eight weeks (not a lie) of hand washing dishes.  It wasn’t that bad, but I was a happy lady when it was finally resolved!
• Mowing the lawn (These skills are emerging.  I still can’t handle dodging toads in the yard.)
• Snow removal (I don’t love it, and yes, sometimes I call for aid. But I’m learning.)
• Turning the outside water on and off
• Assembling shelves
• Assembling furniture (IKEA, baby!)
• Checking out scary noises

Single mamas, I want to hear from you: What have you done to surprise yourself when it comes to tasks that are undesirable or were previously handled by someone else?