Tag Archives: needs

Remind Yourself You Have Everything You Need

It can be easy to get consumed with what is lacking in a single parent’s life—after all, we are often trying to scrape together money and resources and spread ourselves thin to meet the obligations and requirements of life. We may also feel like we are constantly explaining that we cannot afford something, or feel as though we are putting things on hold due to lack of resources. I think this is why it can be so important to remind ourselves that we really do have everything we need. We are doing fine and all of our requirements are being … Continue reading →

It is Okay to Admit You have Needs

There is a difference between having needs and being needy–and even if there wasn’t–some of us single parents are in a place where it may be time for us to realize that it is perfectly okay to have needs and it is also okay to be occasionally needy. Who says we have to be strong and stoic all the time or even that having needs means that we are NOT strong and independent? Think of it this way–some very basic things are actually needs: We need food, shelter, health care, etc. We also need things like love, friendship, loving relationships, … Continue reading →

Coping with a Child’s Dependency Issues

Often, children raised in single parent homes have a high level of independence. I know that my children have had to learn how to do things and help out around the house partially because there is only one adult in the home. There are times, however, when our children may be wrestling with feelings of insecurity and instability and they may actually act MORE dependent. What can we do when our children are displaying dependency issues to help them work through it and feel more secure? I think we can expect that our children will be more clingy and dependent … Continue reading →

Tips for Traveling with Cats

Cats don’t generally travel as well as dogs do. I’m lucky because Mr. Meow is an exception. He does very well if we give him the freedom to decide between his carrier or roaming around the vehicle. (If we just keep him locked in his carrier he’ll meow constantly like mad until we unlock him.) And once he can be out and about, he quiets down and generally picks a spot and stays there. Sometimes it’s my lap, sometimes it’s on the seat beside me (if we’re in Wayne’s pickup), or it’s next to his brother Murphy. But we now … Continue reading →

How To Pick the Purrfect Litter Box

I guess I’ve got a bit of a poop theme going this week. Earlier I wrote about the different kind of pooper scoopers, which applied more to the dog walking set of Families.com readers. But what if you belong to the cat crowd? Well, I also recently had to buy a new litter box for Tabby. The experience made me realize not all litter boxes are created equal. Your Cat’s Needs Obviously your cat needs a place to “go” when the urge hits, but which box will suit your cat best? Here are some things to consider for their comfort: … Continue reading →

What Value Do You Put On Family?

How much time do you spend with your family? Is it more than three minutes a day, one to one? Karen Kingsbury in the after word of her novel ‘Family’ which is part of the Firstborn series, claims ‘national statistics say that most parents spend only three minutes each day having one-on-one time with their kids.’ As I read that sentence I found it hard to believe, perhaps because family has always been important to me. My husband and I made the decision early in our marriage that we would rather have a less spacious house in a less affluent … Continue reading →

Meeting Needs Doesn’t Mean Giving In to Every Want

We live in a confusing time—with so much commercialism and competition and sheer “stuff”—in can get confusing in a family just exactly what we parents are obligated to provide and what is extra. It doesn’t help that we’re getting pressure and influences from all sides (not just from our kids) and it can be a little challenging to differentiate between what are the basic needs that we must provide for our children and what are those extra “wants.” Some things are really obvious, as in we are not obligated to provide i-pods and vacations to Disneyland. But some can be … Continue reading →

Does Your Home Business Really Suit Your Needs?

There are so many things to consider and evaluate in choosing a home business. Some of us sort of “fell” into our home businesses, while others spent months or years evaluating and researching before we took the plunge. Regardless of how we got here, we do need to take a good hard look periodically at our home businesses to decide if our businesses are really meeting our needs or not. The first step, of course, is to determine what your “needs” actually are. Do you need to make a certain amount of money? Is it important that you are able … Continue reading →

Marriage Myths: Wives Are More Romantic Than Husbands

We treasure romance in our society, despite the snickering comments we all make about it. Many of us enjoy a good romantic novel or film and though we will deride them, the derision comes from a sense of longing about the romance. The idea that wives are more romantic than their husbands is a misnomer. Husbands can be very romantic and they enjoy romance themselves. After all, what husband doesn’t appreciate: A surprise dinner either prepared at home or outside at a restaurant Cards of love tucked into their suitcases when they are traveling for business Gifts tucked onto their … Continue reading →