Hopefully, by giving this huge and overwhelming life change a name, by defining it in Stages, and by finding a little humor in it all, we can be gentle and patient with ourselves as we get through Post-Single MotherhoodTM (PSM) together. So, let's get started...

There are seven stages of PSM that, typically, span the time in every single mother’s life when her Spawn are between ages 15 and 22 or, since kids aren't all in the same time zone, sophomore in high school through senior in college. Collectively, these Stages may be referred to as the 7-Year “B"itch.

Each Stage correlates to a year in the Spawn's life. For example, the year before he or she drives, you will notice a smidge* of increased irritability. The year they drive, you will notice just a tad* more anxiety. And so on. Click on the links for details.

(*Smidge and tad are used in a kind way to avoid premature fear, not in any way that could result in legal ramifications should you read this on a particularly snarky day. As in, you TOLD me I'd be just a TAD irritable...)

Stage One: Irritability	Stage Two: Anxiety	Stage Three: Confusion
Stage Four: Paralysis	Stage Five: Rehabilitation	Stage Six: Flirtation
	Stage Seven: Satisfaction

Things About PSM

Each Stage can be Acute or Chronic
Depending on your level of single motherhood. Friends? Family? Support system? Child support? Regular child support? Any variances in these things affects the intensity of the symptoms.

Early Warning Signs
You probably don’t have the time to notice these anyway, so there’s not much point to listing them here. I will tell you that, looking back, my earliest warning sign was when my son was about 12 or 13 and said, during our usual nightly living room television watching ritual, “I think I’m going to go in my room now”. It stung then, but I had no idea that our best-buddy days would soon be dying a slow, painful death.

Prevention
If you're reading this, it's probably too late to recommend abstinence. And Ms.PSM is in wholehearted support of divorce when it's right. But other than that, there is absolutely nothing you can do to prevent the onset of PSM.