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In Knoxville, Tennessee - A recent study by the University of Maryland says today's single mothers, who head of 14 million single-parent home in America, spend less time with their children than mothers did 40 years ago.
Bestselling author, nationally acclaimed speaker and single mother, Angela Thomas says a result, women raising familites as a single parent are often guilt-ridden. Ask any single mom and she'll say no matter how much she does for her kids, it is never enough.
Thomas, whose new book, My Single Mom Life: True Stories & Practical Lessons for Your Journey (Thomas Nelson Inc., May 2007), chronicles her life as a single mom, says these guilty moms often feel pressure to become "cool moms" rather than grounded, string parents.
While embracing the "cool moms" image, women are letting parenting roles take the backseat as they also juggle other roles from Tired Mom to Dating Mom, even Financial Mom. In her new book, Thomas shares her hard-earned wisdom on loneliness, dating, finance and parenting, encouraging every solo mom to become a better parents.
"solo-parnet guilt is the stuff we do so our kids won't have to go without just because they have a single mom," says Thomas, single mother of four. "We convince ourselves that our children should have the coolest skateboard shoes the Internet can provide, shipped overnight so their single-parented feet won't have to wait one more day. We're all done it, just before we catch ourselves and feel guilty for over indulging."
Thomas offers tips for moms to distinguish "right" guilt from "wrong" guilt from "wrong" guilt. The right kind of guilt, she says, inspires women to become consistent, secure moms. Ask yourself at the end of the day, "Given the circumstance and the resources and my energy, have I done all I can?" However, wrong guilt moves moms into "doing" rather than "being" a better mom, anteing up for bigger birthday parties and better presents fueled by the need to do more to compensate for what you will never be able to give.
My Single Mom Life addresses topics such as:
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Finding time for you as a dual-parent
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What to do when you're exhausted and overextended Learning to date again: Dating do's and don'ts for the single mom
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Overcoming loneliness as a single mom
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Surviving "Post-Traumatic Single Mom Syndrome"
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Budget tips for the single mom
Book Summary of My Single Mom Life: True Stories & Practical Lessons for Your Journey
The day Angela Thomas sold the only thing she had, the diamond from her engagement ring, to take care of her kids was the day she began to believe they were going to make it. In that decision, the faith she had always talked about became the faith she was going to learn how to live. In the years since, God has given Angela a passionate desire . . . to live an amazing life, even while raising four kids as a single mom. In this book she shares her hard-earned wisdom on loneliness, dating, finances, and parenting, encouraging every solo mom. "As a gift to our children," she says, "we can become healthy moms who are strong and amazing women in spite of our circumstances."
Copyright © 2007 by Angela Thomas Published by Thomas Nelson Inc. May 2007; Book Description - $19.99 ISBN-13: 978-0785221289
Review
Here's a review from Midwest Book Review of My Single Mom Life:
It is an unfortunate fact that many children now grow-up in a one parent home due to divorce or unexpected death. The problem exists of the emotional growth of these children to become un-scared adults; not an easy task by far. In this work by author Angela Thomas we are given an inside view of a scorned woman, left with young children to raise and the challenges before her. How she handles them may well shape the future of her children; this fact is ever forefront to her.
In her book she deals with some hard situations with the many roles that she must now assume and the emotional trauma that she is also working through. It is hard enough to be thrust into a world of change without having the added responsibility of children. However, she is not a quitter, and after allowing herself some time to adjust she bravely pulls herself together and forges forward determined to have a brighter future than was her past. Ms. Thomas is frank and honest as she opens her heart to her readers concerning feelings of anger and resentment, guilt and unwanted pressures and being just plain tired of all the responsibilities that should never have been placed upon her in the first place.
She guides the reader through her walk as she learns to cope with these many responsibilities that are hers and hers alone, and she clearly emphasizes the importance of having God on your side to get you through each and every challenge faced. She shares many practical lessons, learned from experience on such things as dating, finances, just being a mom and some wonderful advice on loneliness. After reading this book you will certainly walk away with a greater assurance that you can achieve and rise above your circumstances and live a happy full life, for you and your children. A very helpful, encouraging read for any mom who now must walk with road of parenthood alone. Recommended.
Author:
Dina Koutas Poch holds a B.A. from Brown University and an M.F.A. from Columbia University. She is a writer and filmmaker living in New York City with her husband. Her in-laws live in Connecticut.
For more information, please visit iheartmyinlaws.com
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