To Own A Dragon

I am reading a book right now that every single mother who is raising a son should read. It is called, To Own A Dragon. It is the story of a man who grew up without a father. His insights are terrific and somewhat unexpected.

For most single mothers, raising boys can be a mystery. Having never been a boy, she's going to have to guess. Reading this book can give insight into what your son is going through or will go through at some point in his life. The book also gives hope as to what it might mean to be fathered by God.

A point of comfort for single moms should be that she can know God is determined to father her children. Fathering is so important and it is not something a mother can do. So, when single mothers are working their rear off to fill in the gaps left by the absent father, it is nice to know that God is in the details.

Being aware of how God fathers (albeit piecemeal sometimes) will help the single mother to allow that process to play itself out.

Please read this book if you are a single mother raising a son.

New Year's Resolutions

The new year comes Monday. I hope it brings with it hope. Lots of people use the new year as a time to mark a clean slate, a new beginning, a time to make a change. It's not a bad idea. Just be careful of making unwinnable resolutions.

Make a little resolution, or perhaps a thematic resolution. Commit to a direction rather than an arrival point.

For example, a friend of mine said she wanted to put some more whimsy in her life. That's a direction, not a solid promise. At the same time, she knew when she was doing it and counted it to her credit every time she did it.

Capture a theme and go with it in 2007. I think you're going to like where you get with it by the end of 2007.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of you out there. I hope that this Christmas arrives with joy, hope, and love.

The meaning of Christmas can be taken from many different angles. I like to think of Christmas as a time of newness. Christmas brings about change that will make a difference forever. I hope that this Christmas can be good and make a positive change in your life.

Peace.

Questions To Ask Before Getting Married

There is much to know beofre getting married. My savvy readership knows this. The New York Times ives us a little healp toward that end.

Read the NYT list of questions to know the answers to to before getting married.

Childhood Obesity Underdiagnosed

Only about half of obese children are recognized and treated for their condition by their health care providers, according to a new study that shows childhood obesity is often overlooked by pediatricians.

Read more here on WebMD.

Single Dads on TV

Click here to see the TV Dads Hall of Fam website.

Don't Do It

It's the holidays. For many people, Christmas and New Years are so romantic. And yet, as romance floods the season as we hear the countdown to the New Year, ohers feel left out and lonely.

At times like these, people sometimes long for the best of the old relationships, and consequently forget the worst of those old relationships. It can be tempting to make a call that should not be made, send an e-mail that shouldn't be sent, make a forbidden text message. If this is you, then

Don't Do It!!!!!!

Seriouly, you'll hate yourself in the morning. That old relationship ended for a reason. Romantic feelings are not what is going to make that old relationship work. Trust your common sense.

Successful Single Mother

What makes a single mom successful?

Financially making ends meet? Being a good role model for her children? Spending time with her children? Keeping up with the laundry? Making sure her children are getting the best education? Nutritious means? Meaningful connections with technology?

How do you measure success for a single mother?

Holidays and going broke? Make memories

Holidays can be the best time of the year. At the same time, with all of the marketing and consumerism, it seems that one has to spend a thousand dollars in order to have a happy holiday season. Well, it's not true. Money is not the key to holiday happiness.

Instead, spend time making memories.

Click here to read about accumulating memories rather than going in the hole financially.

Welcome

Wecome to the Smart Single Parents blog. I'm glad you stopped by and I hope you'll stop by a lot. This is a place for single moms and single dads to get advice, connect with resources, and engage in conversation. It's a safe place for single parents to visit.

Knowing that few single parents had single-parenthood as their dream come true, this blog is meant to support and empower single parents in their parenting efforts.

It should be understood here that this is a place to learn from each other. The posts and resrouces that show up on this blog are certainly a starting point, but what is going to really make this blog effective is you and your conversations. Please make comments and comment on people's comments. When we share our stories we can learn from each other. We might even help to write each other's stories some. Let's make this blog a place for single-parents all over the world to connect and support one another.