As a parent, even when I was married, I struggled with how to discipline Hailey. I wanted to make sure that we used these times as teachable moments, not just punishment. For the most part, I think we succeeded when her father and I were parenting her together. When you are married discipline seems a little easier, there is another person there to look at the situation and offer input. When you are single, disciplining your child becomes harder but even more important. Sometimes I was afraid of overreacting. Usually my days were long and my patience short and many … Continue reading →

As single mother’s we are always given advice, a list of things to do to make sure our children grow up to be well adjusted adults. While this is helpful, most of the time, you have to take what works for you and discard the rest, a list of what not to do is just as important. One of the big things I learned quickly is not to give in. In the beginning it was so easy to give in to Hailey, I felt guilty and was trying to make things easier on her. After a while I had to … Continue reading →

Are you the recipient of much unwanted advice? Parenting in general seems to bring out everyone’s need to tell you how to do things better. Become a single parent and that advice giving is kicked up a notch. “Do you really think she should spend so much time at daycare?” “Dating? Don’t you think it’s a little soon?” “When my kids were that age I made them sleep in their own beds, you’re spoiling her.” And on and on and on, until I wanted to scream. Everyone, it seemed, knew how to raise my daughter better than I did. Everyone … Continue reading →

Are your mornings hectic and stressful? Mine used to be so bad that I almost dreaded them. Hailey and I would get our day off to a bad start because we would wind up snapping at each other. When I was married we all left the house at the same time, this meant that I had help getting Hailey motivated and out the door. Once I was divorced it was just me. No matter what time we got up Hailey would drag her feet until it was time to walk out the door then we would spend another ten minutes … Continue reading →

As a nation we seem to have lost the ability to be courteous to each other. When was the last time someone held a door for you, said excuse me or even thank you? Everyday we are surrounded by rude people. Recently at work I was walking up the stairs as two women were walking down. Instead of one of the women moving to the same side as the other woman, they both barreled down the stairs as if I wasn’t trying to come up them. I actually had to step backwards, onto the landing to keep from being run … Continue reading →

As a single mother I try to remember every day that I am the example Hailey sees most often. I try to live a life that I want her to emulate. I want to be kind, giving, loving and have no bad habits that have a negative effect on my life or my health. Maybe in my next life I’ll be able to give up chocolate and diet soda but in this one I’m struggling! We all have habits that we wish we didn’t and things we certainly don’t want our kids to pick up. Maybe you bite your nails … Continue reading →

The heat is here in Salt Lake City. When it is already in the 90’s at the beginning of June we know we are in trouble. It’s time to find ways to cool off. What better way to cool of than to get in the water? Going swimming is something you can do with your kids that is relatively inexpensive, and if you are a single mother, that is always necessary. When Hailey was younger I always tried to have some kind of water fun at home, even if it was a sprinkler and one of those plastic kiddie pools. … Continue reading →

Ivy is spending the weekend with me. It’s been a while since Hailey was three but I still remember some of the fun stuff to do for little ones. We went downtown to the Children’s Museum and to play in the fountains at the mall. They were having a children’s street fair so there was a ton to do. It made me remember trying to find things for Hailey to do that were free, or very inexpensive. When I was first divorced money was really tight but I didn’t want Hailey to miss out on all the fun so I … Continue reading →

When you are a single parent just making ends meet can be a struggle. The only way to get you and your children into a better financial position is through education. I know what you’re thinking, there already aren’t enough hours in the day or enough money to go around, how can you possibly go to school? It may be easier than you think. Many career paths will offer the chance to do a paid apprenticeship. You learn, while you are working so you gain usable, real life job experience. As a single mother you may also qualify for tuition … Continue reading →

As parents we are all looking for ways to keep our children busy. As single parents the evenings are short and there is so much to do, we need something to occupy the kids so we don’t feel quite so guilty for working on the report for work or doing another three loads of laundry and scrubbing the bathroom. Unfortunately, for most of us, the easiest entertainers are electronic. We plop the kids in front of a movie or allow them some extra video game time so we can get done what we need to do. I’m not saying that … Continue reading →