Modern Family
Scott Williams
Michelle Sharp's day begins before the sun rises.
At 6 a.m., she flicks on the light switch in the room of her youngest son, Dante Smalls, 11. The single mother gets an hour to cuddle with her Rottweiler, Sasha, and watch the news before it's her 17-year-old son DeVon Eiland's turn to wake up.
"Routine schedule, or nothing would get done," Michelle said.
Part of that routine is talking on the phone with her father, Tom Ball, who's on the other side of the world serving as a civilian contractor in Iraq. Tom's a big part of this family's daily life and a great role model for his two grandsons.
Michelle's life is more hectic since her father's departure on Sept. 26. In addition to keeping house and caring for her boys by herself, she spends her days at work at the Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation Center in Fort Knox and her nights online working toward a master's degree in human resources from the University of Louisville.
Michelle's sons share their mother's academic ambitions. Dante's hand shoots into the air when his fifth-grade teacher, Jessica Dames, poses questions. DeVon has been offered a partial football scholarship from the University of Kentucky, but the North Hardin High School junior is working toward a full academic scholarship.
"My degree has nothing to do with my job," Michelle said. "But I want to set an example for my kids."
Dante Smalls waits before dawn for his bus to Jessica Dames' fifth-grade class at Radcliff Elementary School.
Michelle Sharp wraps in a blanket to keep warm on a cool fall morning while waiting with her son, Dante Smalls, for his school bus.
Enjoying the comfort of her dog, Michelle Sharp of Radcliff, fights early morning fatigue before helping her two sons get ready for school.
The day of the big game, DeVon Eiland gets his breakfast ready. His team, the North Hardin Trojans, defeated the Nelson County Cardinals 38-13 that night.
"Routine schedule or nothing would get done," Michelle Sharp explained. Her morning routine is fast paced, with having to get two boys dressed, fed and out the door and get herself ready for work.
Much of Michelle Sharp's day is spent in her car, shuttling her kids to school and football and basketball practices, visiting her tutor and doing all the other tasks a single mother faces behind the scenes.
At his final home game of the season, DeVon Eiland watches from the bench after spraining his ankle. DeVon's team, the North Hardin High School Trojans, went on to defeat the Nelson County Cardinals, 38-13.
Michelle Sharp and her son, Dante, enjoy a quick after-dinner game of basketball in the driveway of their Radcliff home. Michelle won 15-8.