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Single Mothers Day-To-Day

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Our Day-to-Day section where all single mothers will find everything from articles to research, from tips for a new mom, to things that matter to all Single Mothers.  All articles are courtesy of Spirituality.com otherwise noted.

Inspiration and Motivation
More Single Moms Caving in to be the "Cool Mom" - Bestselling author offers first-hand advice for beating solo-parent guilt. Sources by Amanda Bach -  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 families 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. 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.”

An Immeasurable Power -By Radenko Fanuka - 21st Century’s Woman - Author of Reflections: Personalizing Life, Nature, Man and God - In this, 21st century, I believe that a woman will make great, giant contributions, or steps. Our powerful, wounded nature, our freedom, and our health, have for too long been asking us, as well as telling us, some unanswered questions, “Why, and why not? A power, which can make a successful step against MOTHER NATURE’S power, earth’s soil, women and sun, doesn’t exist, and it hasn’t been born yet. This power, earth’s soil, women and sun, is embodied into one body, and it is an inseparable piece, and no matter how it is positioned, or turned, physically or mathematically, it is a piece which holds together all life. It is this power which cannot be separated, or torn apart, unless life on earth is destroyed. This is nothing more, or less, than nature’s power and truth.

True Stories of False Memories - By Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson - authors of Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) - False memories allow us to forgive ourselves and justify our mistakes, but sometimes at a high price: an inability to take responsibility for our lives. An appreciation of the distortions of memory, a realization that even deeply felt memories might be wrong, might encourage people to hold their memories more lightly, to drop the certainty that their memories are always accurate, and to let go of the appealing impulse to use the past to justify problems of the present. If we are to be careful about what we wish for because it might come true, we must also be careful which memories we select to justify our lives, because then we will have to live by them

On Becoming Fearless Book - Arianna Huffington - What are you afraid of? Being assertive? Looking fat? Getting older? Going broke? Are you afraid for your children? Afraid of losing love? Afraid of leading the charge? Whatever your fear, women everywhere confront the same fears every day. Enter Arianna Huffington, bestselling author, Internet entrepreneur, journalist, mother, and one of the most influential people in America. She believes that conquering fear is crucial to living a full life and to making a difference in the world, and in this powerful and daring manifesto, she inspires us to take on the task. Huffington is fearless but not by nature; she's had to learn to overcome her fears and relies on these hard-won lessons every day. In order to live a happy, fulfilling life, we need to reach the point where our fears do not stop us from daring to think new thoughts, take risks, fail, start again, and, ultimately, succeed. Provocative, empowering, and enriched by the voices of remarkable women everywhere, On Becoming Fearless is the road map to a life without fear-a life of truth, love, and freedom.

I Thought It Was Just Me Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame - By Brené Brown, Ph.D.  L.M.S.W. Shame manifests itself in many ways. Addiction, perfectionism, fear, and blame are just a few of the outward signs that Dr. Brené Brown discovered in her six-year study of shame's effects on women. While shame is generally thought of as an emotion sequestered in the shadows of our psyches, I Thought It Was Just Me demonstrates the ways in which it is actually present in the most mundane and visible aspects of our lives -- from our mental and physical health and body image to our relationships with our partners, our kids, our money, and our work. We live in a culture that tells us we must reject our bodies, reject our authentic stories, and ultimately reject our true selves in order to fit in and be accepted. After talking to hundreds of women and therapists, Dr. Brown, in I Thought It Was Just Me, illuminates the myriad shaming influences that dominate our culture, and explains why we are all vulnerable to shame. It's not just you, you're not alone, and if you fight the daily battle of feeling like you are -- somehow -- just not "enough," you owe it to yourself to read this book and discover your infinite possibilities as a human being.

Practical Guidelines for Living More Completely In the Now - By Richard Moss, MD - Author of The Mandala of Being: Discovering the Power of Awareness - The Mandala of Being shows us why and how we habitually obstruct our innate potential for what Richard Moss calls radical aliveness, a life of authenticity, overflowing energy, and joy. In these pages, Richard Moss gives us an effective practice that is readily incorporated into day-to-day life. It illustrates that there are in fact only four places our minds ever go when we leave the Now -- the past, the future, judgments of ourselves, and judgments of others. It allows us to trace precisely the path we have taken away from our most authentic and essential being whenever we are not fully present, and simultaneously shows us the way home. 

Here's A Book That Provides Help, Hope & Healing for Single Moms... - By Cassandra Mack - Author of The Single Moms Little Book of Wisdom - A new book by motivational speaker, author, women's empowerment coach. Cassandra Mack contains life-changing insight, empowerment tools and practical advice for single mothers who are actively seeking ways to let go do the things that drain them, align their thoughts and habits with the things that bring joy and live their best lives. Addressing such issues as: surviving tough times, avoiding unnecessary drama, transforming yourself for greatness, getting serious about your success, practical prosperity, helping your children get what they need to thrive, escaping the superwoman trap, getting ready for real love and how not to be bitter baby's mama. The Single Moms Little Book of Wisdom, is sure to be of great comfort and value to any woman whose journey has taken her to single motherhood.

A New Years Resolution: Building A Bridge with Your Former Spouse - By Michele Germain - www.thejillprinciple.com  - What happens when you interact with your former spouse?   Are you angry, fearful, upset and defensive?  Or are you centered, focused and neutral?  Are you proactive or reactive? Do you have your business hat on, or are you the scream machine? Are you reminded of your unresolved feelings you are still harboring?  Do you find yourself upset the rest of the day after an interaction?   Are you worried about the children and wondering how they are going to do with the divorce or breakup? You look ahead and realize you have a job to finish.   Raising your children.  And this requires a relationship with your former spouse.  It is called co-parenting post divorce. Recent research indicates that divorce itself may not be damaging to children.   Rather, the on-going conflict, anger and unresolved feelings that are exhibited by one or both parents create a great deal of distress in children.  Especially when they are put in the middle, and witness conflicts and arguments or hear you talk negatively about the other parent.

Success Thinking - By Devlyn Steele - Life Coach Advice - If you think success, success will happen.  It sounds like magic, success thinking, but that is exactly how it works! Before anything is realized in our lives, it is preceded by a thought.  If you want shoes, you first have to think shoes.  If you want to eat, you first think food.  Without the thought, no action is taken and nothing is realized.  In life, if you want success, you have to learn how to think successfully.

A Simple Way to Feel Better and Be More Attractive - By Devlyn Steele - Life Coach Advice - As we rush through our busy days accomplishing our tasks– work, kids, shopping, cleaning, and eating on the go, we often complain that we don’t feel good.  There is a simple and effective way to feel better throughout the day and be more attractive. All you have to do is smile more.  Smiling changes your attitude, whether you realize it or not.  If you have any doubts, the next time you feel down, start smiling and thinking positive thoughts and see what happens.

Change...Can Yield Growth and Self-Discovery - by Connie Glaser - Most of us did not grow up in such a change-friendly atmosphere. In fact, it's fair to say that we tend to fear, rather than welcome, change. Part of the reason is that change can all too often seem threatening. This, of course, says more about our belief in our own abilities than it does about whatever situation we may be facing. Unfortunately, it sometimes seems that human nature, whenever we are faced with change, automatically focuses on the possible risk rather than on the reward.

A Mother’s Mission - by Laura Cleverly - When I was younger I used to dream of the children I’d have. I figured I’d always be married and maybe even be fortunate enough to be a stay-at-home mom in a cute house with a white picket fence. Life really throws you a curve ball every now and then. Being a single mother and not being able to travel, I asked people to bring the world to my son.  I reached out to people and asked them to mail their vacation photos and postcards to Colton- to show my son the beauty of this world before he loses all his sight. Be grateful that no matter how hard things might be for you, at least your kids have sight. Don’t waste your time dreaming of that white picket fence and perfect life. The “best” thing you could get in life are healthy children who will be able to witness the beauty of life forever.

To SingleMom.com, please share my story: I'm one of those afghan women who been abused in united state for almost 11 yeas same way as other afghan women in Afghanistan. I couldn't even make any different between living in U.S. and Afghanistan till one of my neighbor met me at grocery store. I really do need support and if I get support from you all, I might be the best example for all afghan women's freedom and they all will see their dreams come true as mine.

Baby Steps or Giant Leaps - By Jennifer Snyder - As summer days drew to a close this year, I found myself feeling not quite satisfied and at loose ends. I recognized that uncovering the cause of these feelings would require me to stop and take note, but I was willing to give these sluggish feelings the attention they deserved. My heart and head had been sending distinct messages, and it was time for me to listen.

Rebuilding: Being Authentically “You” - By Jennifer Snyder  -  I once read a fascinating, but all too realistic, story about a woman who opened her closet door and out tumbled various pieces of sporting equipment and memorabilia. While these possessions represented the last decade of her life, she didn’t realize until putting them all away that she felt no connection to anything in her closet. You see, this poor woman had put aside her own interests for the hobbies of a long line of significant others. Standing before her newly straightened shelves, she recalled relationships with Partner A in the water skis, Partner B in the bicycle helmet, and Partner C with a paintball gun. She asked herself, “How could I have given up so much of myself so that nothing in my closet reflects my own interests?”

The Secret to this Famous Singer's Success - by Jason Gracia - Motivation123.com - It seems the longer think we have, the longer we put off living the life we see in our heads. You know what I'm talking about. The way you wish things were.

The child I never held - Kate Oyer from Spirituality.com - I was 20 years old the summer I became pregnant. She was my first child. But it was hard to be happy about it. I was unmarried.

The indelible ink of Spirit - A spirituality.com commentary from www.spirituality.com - It was a kind of salute—showing each other their purple finger tips. A salute to individuality, to oneness, to the Power from above. Iraqi citizens submitted willingly to dipping their fingers in purple ink to ensure no double voting in the joy of voting freely for the first time in decades.

Lifted up by an angel at the corner church - Eileen Stoecklin from www.spirituality.com - Early on in life, I had a first-hand lesson in loving my neighbor as myself. It came at a tough time. I was single and out of work—my broken-down car made it hard for me to find a job. I had no TV, no phone and often no food. My alcoholic sister, who lived next door, had a baby to care for. She often used her food stamps to buy beer and drink her problems away.

My relief prayer for Southeast Asia - Michelle Boccanfuso - from www.spirituality.com - ''Where are my children?'' she asked. ''Where are they? Why did this happen to me? I've lost everything.'' Of all the reports I read on the aftermath of the tsunamis in Southeast Asia, this one resonated so strongly with me.

My Daughter is spoiled - yes, rotten! by Leah D Crow - My Daughter is spoiled - yes, rotten! I can't help it I love her so very much and she is such a fantastic person I'm easily inclined to do things for her.

What Do Successful Moms Do?  They Inspire! - by Christiane Holbrook, M.A. We all want to succeed in our businesses!  We want to be financially independent.  We want to make a difference, find fulfillment and use our gifts.  But we also want to be there for our kids. What most of us don't realize is that we can have both: an opportunity to make a huge difference in the world and to be a great positive influence in our children's lives. And it all starts with being a role model for our children.

  Inspiration stories from amazing Single Moms - Written by Miracle Single Moms. These are true stories from all amazing Moms.  Stories that they live every day & inspired other Moms not to give up. These stories were submitted to us by real life Single Moms just like you.

New Moms  - Tips for new moms, what to do & take care of a newborn.
Cloth Diapering 101 - By Amy Allen Clark - If you think of diaper pins and plastic pants, when you think of cloth diapering, you have not seen the cloth diapers for today’s mom. Cloth diapers are a far cry from this image, and cloth diapering is definitely something to explore when you are a frugal mother. The days of origami, accidentally sticking your child with pins, and sloshing diapers in the toilet to rinse them are the diapering days of our mothers. I am here to tell you that cloth diapering is easy, affordable, and is worth every moment of your time and dollar investment. You will not believe how easy it is or how rewarding the process of cloth diapering is- both financially and environmentally.

Rules of Thumb for Choosing a Baby Name - By Laura Wattenberg - From Aaliyah to Zvi, the range of name choices is dazzling. If you're a sleepless parent-to-be, it can look like a vast landscape with no roadmap. Here are some basic principles for understanding names -- and finding that one perfect name that speaks to your heart.

New Single Moms - Tips for suddenly single moms, what to expect & what to do.

Surviving Colic, and all the advice comes with it - by Cecily Harrison - I had waited so long, I wanted the entire experience of motherhood to be instinctive, natural. “Women have been doing this for thousands of years,” I kept repeating, and each time someone with children suggested being a parent was the hardest job around, I’d say, “Bring it on.” My sweet little lamb with the heart-shaped mouth started crying. “Colic,” said the pediatrician, and prescribed Mylicon ‘round the clock.

Implant - by Cecily Harrison - Single Mom by Choice - as Arabella stares back at me, her eyes pinched as if to say, “What kept you.”  I will tell her how I toured the world, in cars, subways, and taxis, dreaming of her, how I named her, and held her in the mother’s arms of my mind. I will respect the miracle that she is, and tell her things as they become apparent and appropriate, and I will love her to the heavens and more. I made this baby and she made me.

Widowed - Major life transitions, such as the death of a spouse, are very traumatic.  Not only do you need to work through the emotional turmoil, but you must carefully review your financial situation to be certain your current and long-term financial needs are adequately addressed.  First, you should take time to grieve, but contact your attorney to be certain any initial steps spelled out in the will are followed, especially relating to funeral issues.

 Tips for Single Moms  
Holiday Shopping Tips - Kelly Kennedy - Its right around the corner, the holidays that is, but consumers are getting an even earlier start this year with their holiday shopping.  People act in ways they never acted before or thought they were capable of acting.  Its an outrageous time of year for malls and stores but somehow all the gifts people are looking for make it to their final destination.

Protect your Identity from Being Stolen - by Kelly Kennedy from singlemotherresources.com - The first thoughts running through your head are, “How could this be?”  Unfortunately people’s identities get stolen all the time even when people think their personal information is safe and secure.

Single Mother Resources to Make Due with Less Time and Money - by Kelly Kennedy from singlemotherresources.com - A single mother may find that raising gas prices seem to be the talk of the town lately, but why shouldn’t it be.  Gas prices are going up just as fast as weeds in your back yard. So how can we make do with less money or time?

Single Mother Resources: Ways to Save on Pet Care - by Kelly Kennedy from singlemotherresources.com - Pets are great to have when you live alone.  As a single mother you are bound to get lonely but with a pet you won’t feel as lonely, and you feel somewhat protected. 

Money Saving Tips and Frugal Living Advice - By Cindy @ SavingDimes.com - Saving Dimes is a new website pertaining mainly to helping people save financially.

 Mom Advice Column - twice monthly advice from our contributor Amy Allen Clark at www.MomAdvice.com - Tips for a new mom to things that matter to all Single Mothers. 
Author Bio - Amy Allen Clark She is a stay-at-home mother of a three year old son and is expecting their second child in December. She is founder and creator of www.momadvice.com.  Her web site is geared towards mothers who are seeking advice on staying organized, living on a budget, and for those seeking work-at-home employment. Please visit her web site for more information on these various topics for mothers. She's one of our regular contributor at SingleMom.com.

Happy Homemaking the Homemade Way - Amy Allen Clark - I am not going to launch into a preachy prose about how bad commercial cleaning products are today when it comes to cleaning your home. It is common knowledge that a healthy home is not doused in heavy-duty bleach and preserving our environment should be tops on our priority list. The truth is, if you peeked inside of my caddy of cleaners, you would see some of these harmful products in there.  The fact is that I am trying to rely less on these cleaners and rely more on homemade cleaners. I am in the process of making the transition over to using only healthy homemade cleaners, and feel a lot of pride when I take the time to do this. I know how much better it is for our environment...and for my wallet!

Inexpensive Gifts for the Graduate - Amy Allen Clark - The end of the school year means, for many of us, lots of high school graduations and open houses to attend. To go along with these events, comes the obligatory gift for the graduate and spending money to show appreciation of their hard work. Just what is a frugal mom to do when the gift-giving season is upon her? What do you purchase for these graduates without breaking the bank? This is the time to really let your creativity shine through and create gifts that are both memorable and affordable. These gifts do not have to be expensive; in fact, I find that the truly practical graduation gifts require very little money.Here are a few of my favorite gifts to give that are affordable and thoughtful….

Frugal Ways to Winterize Your Home - By Amy Allen Clark -  If you live in regions where it becomes extremely cool in the winter, I am sure that you can feel the changes in the air and sense what is about to come. Winter weather is just around the corner and it is time to prepare your home for the cold weather. For a frugal person, the important thing is figuring out how to prepare your home for the cool season and keep the most money in your pocket.

Surviving Winter Break - By Amy Allen Clark - Winter break is much shorter than the summer break, but for many parents it feels like the longer of the two breaks. Being cooped up in the house can make parents and children crazy after a few days let alone weeks on end. Here are ten ideas for you and your children to help you survive the long winter days without blowing your budget or losing your sanity.

Preparing for Your New Arrival - By Amy Allen Clark of www.momadvice.com- Preparing for a new baby is an exciting and scary time, especially with the first child. When our son was born, we had no idea what we would need to do to get our home ready for our sweet little bundle of joy. I read every book that I could on preparing the nursery, bought all of the proper bedding, and washed his tiny little baby clothes.
 

The Prescription Lowdown - By Amy Allen Clark - Prescription medication is an expense that many families cannot afford. If you do not have an insurance plan that will cover your prescriptions and are a low-income family, then you are not alone.
Aldi’s Supermarket- The Real Deal? - By Amy Allen Clark - I remember as a child going to Aldi’s Supermarket with my mother to get our groceries. My mom worked very hard for many years, and deciding to stay home proved to be very difficult on our family finances.
Gearing Up For Summer - By Amy Allen Clark - Summer is just around the corner and with the warmer weather comes many preparations in both the interior and the exterior of the home.
  Decorating on a Shoestring Budget - By Amy Allen Clark -  Right now one of the most popular shows on television is, “Trading Spaces.” Do not despair just because your money is limited - you can still create a warm and inviting home frugally.
Eating Out on Budget - By Amy Allen Clark - Eating a meal out can be a really expensive event, but it really does not have to be.
Making Your Own Cleaners - By Amy Allen Clark - A great place to save money is to make your own household cleaners.
Picky Eater Survival Guide - By Amy Allen Clark - It is hard enough to menu plan for your family with family members who will eat just about anything, but try to plan a menu around a picky eater. Trust me, it isn’t fun!
Saving on Utility Bills - By Amy Allen Clark - Some of our bills can be eliminated as being “extras”, but utilities is just not one of these. Here are some helpful tips for ways to decrease your utility bills.