Single Parents Town Blog

“Debt-proof living is  not about deprivation, guilt and fear; it’s about sound choices and effective decisions. It’s a disciplined lifestyle that brings peace and joy. Debt-proof living makes the journey exhilarating, so you can enjoy the spectacular view!”–Mary Hunt

A while back when I was writing an article on Single Parents Living Successfully (and Happily) on one income another single mom friend recommended Mary Hunt’s books and her website on Debt-Proof Living. This single mom said she read Hunt’s books (from the library) and followed her instructions and it has changed her life forever. I hear this often from people whether they have read Hunt, or Suze Orman, or Dave Ramsey or others. Continue reading »

The other day I was channel surfing and I stopped when I saw a familiar face. It was M. Gary Neuman. I feel like I know Gary because I read his book, Helping Your Kids Cope with Divorce the Sandcastles Way, and I have seen him on Oprah. There are a lot of self help books out there, and a lot of divorce books, too. But what really got me about Gary’s book is that he gets kids and when you read his book, you get a better understanding how all the marital turmoil affects children.

Gary provides insight into the world of children. Pictures, letters and quotes from kids are included. You can probably get a copy at the library.

On the Joy Behar’s show Gary said something like this: “During divorce parents are at their worst (hurt, angry, financially and emotionally wrecked), and that is when their children need them the most.” Many parents get stuck in their bad place and the kids are left feeling alone and confused. Continue reading »

I just finished reading Andre Dubus III’s memoir, Townie. It was not, as far as memoirs go, an easy read. Dubus III, son of famous short story writer Andre Dubus,  writes his personal family truths and it is a mostly unvarnished view of a life of poverty, drugs, and on-the-edge existence. After his father left and his parents divorced, his mother a social worker single mother raised her four children while working full-time. While she was at work, they roamed the streets, finding trouble, drugs, violence, and sex at a very early age. His father paid child support (which was never enough to cover expenses, notes Dubus III) and visited he and his siblings once a week. At the time there was no shared custody or overnight alternating weekend visits. Instead he took his kids to dinner once each week. Dubus III says he once heard his father say he felt like “he was forced to date his children.” 

The book is a study in divorce and single parenting from the seventies. Dubus III, author of The House of Sand and Fogand other books, artfully crafts his scenes, describes his life and his relationships with family members in a truthful and un-antagonistic way.  Continue reading »

Last week I talked with Matt Logelin, the author of Two Kisses For Maddy, and his very successful website.

Logelin’s wife died of a pulmonary embolism on the same day she gave birth to their premature daughter, Madeline. Matt reached out to the blogsphere first as a way to update family and friends and that as an outlet for grief and celebration of Maddy’s milestones. Continue reading »