credit: Fred JalaA Dennis the Menace cartoon has Dennis bemoaning the fact that he is outnumbered by parents. That ratio is reversed in a single-parent household with two or more kids, who sometimes seem to gang up on you.

As difficult as it may be to carry the weight of responsibility unassisted by a loving companion, you can do it. Just about the time you think you will go crazy if you have to taxi one more carload of kids to a baseball field, the season will be over. When you think you can not possibly throw another birthday party, you do, and it turns out fine. When one gets sick at school . . . you'll figure out a way.

Raising kids alone won't be easy, but rest assured, they will not be young forever. So enjoy these hectic years, they do grow up and move out eventually.

There are many books written about single parenthood. By the time your kids are grown you probably could write your own book, not a bad idea. Here are two people who did just that:

• 50 Wonderful Ways to be a Single-Parent Family by Roberta Israeloff
• The Complete Single Mother: Reassuring answers to your most challenging concerns, by Engber and Klungness
• Single Mother's Survival Guide by Patrice Karst

Good luck single parents. Some day you'll look back and laugh. Not really, but you'll look back and wonder how you ever did it, and you'll be proud to know that you did. Oh yeah, keep your sense of humor, it will get you through some rough times.

With a smile, The Schoolmarm