Top Five Tricks for Cooking Healthy on a Budget

 Posted by Julie on February 16, 2010  General, Nutrition, Single Entrepreneur Mom  No Responses »
Feb 162010
 

We all know that a meal at a nice restaurant is more expensive than cooking at home. You may also know that daily fast-food meals add up quickly, and there are of course the inherent health consequences to choosing drive-thru dinners.

What you might not know, is that in your efforts to save money by eating at home, you can fall trap to some added costs that keep the grocery bills equally high. Things like frozen meals, bottled salad dressing, and ingredients that you only use once, can be a total money pit.

Last night we made a wonderful meal at home that cost less than $10. Continue reading »

Talking to your kids about dating and relationships

 Posted by Patrick on February 15, 2010  General  No Responses »
Feb 152010
 

Talking to your kids about dating and relationships

Frankie Ortega with the Chonicle proposed an interesting question on momhouston.com recently. She asked what do you say to your child after their first break-up.

I can vividly remember those conversations with my kiddos.
The conversations that I had with my kiddos may not be exactly what the therapists recommend but I am a first timer at this dad stuff.

I believe that if my kiddos were writing about their lessons learned on this subject they would offer up something close to the following: Continue reading »

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Letting Let Our Kids Be Kids

 Posted by Keith on February 14, 2010  General, How to Communicate with Your Kids, Raising Children as a Single Parent  No Responses »
Feb 142010
 

“Stop running!”

“Get out of the water!”

“Stop climbing on that!”

Sound familiar?

If you are anything like me, even with my best intentions to make sure my son hears plenty of “Yes’s,” he still get his shares of “no’s” and “stop that.”  Probably more than I would like to admit.

Yesterday we arrived at Disney World…the happiest place on earth!  This is the first time for my son, who is five, and it’s the first time I have been here in over 30 years! Continue reading »

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Washington Needs a Co-Parenting Class

 Posted by Bill on February 11, 2010  Dealing with Divorce and Your Ex, General, Getting Your New Life In Order, How to Communicate with Your Kids, Organizing, Uncategorized  No Responses »
Feb 112010
 

I have never used this blog to make a political statement and I am not about to do so today. I personally do not care if you are a Republican a Democrat or and Independent. I don’t care if you are a card carrying member of the Green Party, Brown Party, Yellow Party or Chuckie Cheese Party.

I have always believed that this blog should be an opportunity for you the reader to take a peek inside the  life of  a single dad. I believe that is what I have always done and will continue to do so. But last night, as I sat at home with the kids watching the news, I couldn’t help to think that Washington needs a co-parenting class. Here we have our role models our leaders and in essence the parents of our country acting like two bickering parents. Do they not get it? It’s not about who wins, or who you love the most or who you want to live with it’s about us, the children of this country. The ones who have to live with your decisions and bickering each and every day. Do any of you think about us the children first. OK I know that each of you parents believe that your way is the right way, but is it really? We as the children of this country need you to be there for us. To set an example. To consciously co-parent us effectively. To first put our needs in mind not your own individual self serving motives. We will accept the fact that you will never see eye to eye on everything. After all that  is why you have separated. We will accept the fact that you are hurt and angry about your loses but why must you take it out on us? Why can’t you just give a little and meet half way? That is all we the children of this country want. We have lived with you in the past when you screamed and shouted and it hurt our feelings. It made us sad that you spent so much time bickering about yourselves that you didn’t spend time with us. We as a family survived those days of differences and we will survive them again in the future, but please don’t forget about us the children. You have been  and hopefully will continue to be, our role models. We look up to you. We believed in you. Please don’t allow your anger about your past and present continue to influence what we think of you. We will grow up one day and make different decisions based upon what you have put us through, but we don’t ever want to lose our respect for you.

Please Washington don’t forget that you have the responsibility to co-parent for us effectively. That is all we really ask. Communicate with us, put our feelings first and remember that you are modeling for us each day. We know that you will make mistakes and we are ok with that,  just as long as you don’t forget us in the process. Continue reading »

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Am I really carrying a kitten umbrella?

 Posted by Tracy on February 10, 2010  General  No Responses »
Feb 102010
 

Much like the tween stage for kids turning into teenagers, I think there is also an in between stage for women who are in between 30-40ish.   Maybe we one day look in our closet and see some clothes and shoes that are more conservative then we ever thought we would wear but then we also still have those clothes that we like to wear when we want to tear up the town with our girls, Merlot in hand and rockin the 5 inch boots.   But then when you become a mom not only does your wardrobe start to see clothes that you looked at your mom and thought, “I would never wear a robe like that” you start doing things you would have never done back in your too cool for school days.

For example, I was walking towards the grocery store the other day and it started to rain.  Turns out my daughter’s umbrella was in the car, not mine.  As I start walking through the parking lot in the college area where there are young guys and gals running around, I realize the umbrella I’m carrying is green with kittens all over it.  Yes, I said kittens.  Now, the old me would have either rushed back to the car to put the umbrella back or I would have quickly closed it and hid it in my purse.  I’m willing to admit I have had a healthy size vanity issue.  But the new me, conditioned by motherhood looked up and just laughed to myself.  Part of the laugh was thinking everyone was checking me out and saying, “Who is that chick with the kitten umbrella?”  The other half of the laugh was at myself for being concerned what people would think of me for carrying a kitten umbrella.  I thought to myself, “Really Tracy you’re worried if people will make fun of you for carrying a kitten umbrella?”  Well me, being the optimistic cheerleader that I am immediately switched my thoughts and said to myself, “Well, let’s just pretend you’re a celebrity and you’re creating a new fashion trend as we speak.”   Then I started thinking about the kitten line of perfume I could create.  Kitten handbags, slippers, jammies, hats and let’s not forget stuffed animals of course.  Oh, the possibilities.  I love when the creative engine gets crankin.  My own personal joy ride.

So if you ever have those moments when your identity as a parent gets pushed to the front of the line before your identity as what you were before you were a parent, remember the kitten umbrella and know you are not alone. Continue reading »

A Little Bit of Heart-Healthy ‘Magic Dust’ Goes a Long Way

 Posted by Julie on February 10, 2010  Nutrition  3 Responses »
Feb 102010
 

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and again we’re managing the onslaught of sugary treats that are served in our childrens’ classrooms.

Didn’t we just do this a few months ago?

If you’re ready to take a courageous step outside the box and be the parent who bakes healthier treats that still don’t skip a beat on flavor, then you’ll love the little ‘magic dust’ called Stevia. Continue reading »

In a blink of an eye

 Posted by Bill on February 5, 2010  General, Raising Children as a Single Parent, Uncategorized  4 Responses »
Feb 052010
 

It is amazing to me how quickly life goes by. I know that there are 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour, but why does time go by in a blink of an eye? I know that there are 24 hours in a day and 365 days in a year, but why does time go by in a blink of an eye? It always seems like the bad days take forever but the good ones go by in a blink of an eye. I am one who keeps every picture my kids have ever taken. I was keeping pictures long before we put them on our cell phones and computers. I actually  have a storage tub or two at home filled with them. If I were to ever do a collage it would probably be the size of a football field. I love looking back on them every now and then. It still amazes me how it seems as if I just took them yesterday.

Last night I was reminded again how life goes by in a blink of an eye. My daughter Michaela attended her 8th grade Winter Dance. All of the girls dressed up as if it were the prom. They all looked so beautiful. The boys were styling as well but there is something about girls at this age that screams “watch out adulthood here I come”. As I watched my daughter smile and laugh I was again reminded that life goes by in a blink of an eye. Earlier yesterday I was reminiscing through some of Michaela’s old photos. There was Notre Dame cheerleader picture at three, the birthday party pictures at six, the class pictures from school  and the soccer pictures that seem to go on and on and on. I smiled as I thought back to what a beautiful little girl I was blessed to have. Watching her grow and transform into the beautiful young lady that she is becoming brought  a tear to my eye. Last night at the dance i  again realized how life goes by in a blink of an eye. The little girl that I have been taking photos of forever is now a thirteen year old teenager. She is 5’6″ tall and still growing. The boys smile at her more than she smiles at them. When God gave out pretty and heart Michaela was in the front of the line. I am so proud of her but I really wish that my blinks would slow down.

I know that we only have a short time to be with our kids. I know that it is our job to allow them to grow and then set them free. I just wish that it would not go by in a blink of an eye.

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