A Single Mom’s Resume: From 2004 To Present

Dear Ms. Aportinato,

After 14 years of wearing ill-fitting tank tops, converse sneakers and sweatpants with the word “PINK” written across my backside, I am hoping to reenter the world of corporate America. I realize I will be required to wear a bra, garments without logos on them and shoes that don’t come in 18 different colors.

Since August 2004, I have been employed as a single parent and have been promoted numerous times. I was initially in charge of raising a toddler, then a preschooler who, due to my hands-on approach to keeping her alive, eventually became an elementary-school student. Throughout this period, I was responsible for arranging transportation, providing childcare when needed, and comforting my client in the dark by reminding her it all would OK because I’d just found a wonderful new therapist and the guy who was stalking me had moved out of state. I also was in charge of a pool of babysitters who never hesitated to wait until the last second to tell me they couldn’t pick up because they had just received a last-minute invite to Burning Man.

I scheduled doctor appointments, met with teachers and dealt with numerous customer service people. I learned my ex-husband’s girlfriend was named Rhonda, and singlehandedly tore numerous branches off a jacaranda tree in our backyard when my client repeatedly yelled out, “Look, it’s a JacaRHONDA!”

Being the sole provider, I tried new things — no matter how much they terrified me — and believed that I was incapable of accomplishing them. As examples, I have enclosed photos of my using an electric screwdriver to put together a 22-piece nightstand, using the 20 pieces that remained after I lost my mind because the directions were crap and whoever wrote them

should fry.

Although the main office was in Los Angeles, we relocated to New York City, where I turned 50 and was subsequently diagnosed with a chronic disease called aging. Since 2016 it has been getting incrementally worse, so that I am now combatting dry skin, hot flashes and the knowledge that my shopping at Forever 21 is suddenly frowned upon (as is any purchase I make from American Eagle Outfitters).

In order to make the cross-country move, I was first required to learn custodial law for the State of California and navigate family court and child-support services. I garnered certain protections and payments to support my client’s increasingly expensive needs, which included threading salons, Starbucks and the lion’s share of my patience and time.