Why Single Moms Don’t Go To Church by Jennifer Maggio

 Posted by Jennifer on May 16, 2012  General  2 Responses »
May 162012
 

 It is estimated that 67% of single parents in the United States do not actively attend church anywhere. In my latest book, The Church and the Single Mom, we take a look at why many single parents do not attend their local church. Here is what we found:

  • Many single parents fear they will be judged. Whether unplanned pregnancy or divorce led them to become single parents, there is a fear that they will not be accepted by the congregation.
  • Some single moms carry shame from past mistakes that may have resulted in their current situation. They fear they have somehow failed their children and forever scarred them. They cannot forgive themselves.
  • They do not feel that they belong. The typical family that we all grew up watching on television consisted of Dad, Mom, white picket fence, and 3 happy children, right? Many churches are made up of similar families. Therefore, single parents do not feel there is a place for them.
  • There is no Sunday School Class, Connect Group, Cell Group, (or whatever else your church may call its small group connection) for single moms. As is the case with all of us, we want to be with people who understand our journey. Support groups provide that environment.
  • Unplanned pregnancy, oftentimes, is categorized by the church as a more significant sin that perhaps lying, cheating, stealing, or any of the other sins that God detests. This, in turn, leads the church to believe any type of support for the single mother may in some way be promoting a “loose sexual lifestyle.”

Thank God that many of the churches around the country that have recognized the need to reach out to single parents in their communities. Many have understood the importance of the church being “inclusive” not exclusive. Many have seen that Jesus did not come to save just the finely-dressed folks that are perceptionally sin-free (however disillusioned this perception may be), but rather came so that all may have life and have it abundantly. Continue reading »

 Tagged with: , , ,

Are You A Single Parent Because Of Abuse?

 Posted by Bill on May 14, 2012  General  No Responses »
May 142012
 

“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.”

I was recently asked to write an article about becoming a single parent due to addiction or abuse. I guess that sometimes I forget that so many of us become single parents, not because we chose to and not because our marriage just didn’t work out, but because of addictions and abuse. Since I fall into the first category, single due to an addiction, I thought that I would try and understand what it truly means to become a single parent due to abuse.

Although I have lived this life, I still wanted to make sure that I had my basis and facts covered. The first thing that I did was go to the Internets all knowing dictionary, Wikipedia. Each time I go there I have the benefit viewing a page or two of relative information. Not much, but enough to get me up to speed on what it is I am trying to understand. This week I looked up the word “Abuse”. OMG (That’s text for those of you who don’t have teenagers which means OH MY GOD) There was page, after page, after page of definitions. Child abuse, dating abuse, addiction abuse, abuse of power and the big one domestic abuse. The definition of domestic abuse is described below: Continue reading »

Finding Joy by Jennifer Maggio

 Posted by Jennifer on May 9, 2012  General  1 Response »
May 092012
 

 I tend to share much of my personal journey with you in hopes that you will glean some knowledge from my mistakes, be encouraged when I am victorious, and laugh with me when I trip (repeatedly). It’s just the way I write. I love sharing with my readers as if you were  on my couch sipping coffee with me.

Some of you may remember that my son broke his foot last spring playing basketball, consequently losing his well-earned spot in the national basketball tournament. It took him about 6 months to recover through physical therapy. Well, not long after his recovery, my beautiful daughter began to complain of hip pain, when she was playing volleyball. Ultimately, we wound up having surgery for her hip this past December.  About the time of my daughter’s surgery, my son, in the midst of his basketball season, began to complain about some minor shoulder pain. Fast-forward 3 months and the “minor” shoulder pain developed into a major shoulder surgery, putting him out for the second year in a row from his summer basketball tournaments.

Now, I know there are worse problems in the world. I know people are starving and dying of cancer. I know that in the grand scheme of things my children’s surgeries (and the fact that I’ve had a kid in physical therapy for over 12 consecutive months) and the medical bills that followed are not a huge deal to most.  But, in my little world, it has been a big deal. Continue reading »

 Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Do You Believe?

 Posted by Michele on May 8, 2012  General  No Responses »
May 082012
 

Step on to the wings of faith and believe with everything that you are that you can do anything and remember it is sometimes when you take the biggest risks that you finally learn to fly…. Believe. Michele

 

I am always inspired when I hear of a success story where someone went up against the odds and regardless of the obstacles faced or how difficult the journey, achieved a dream that may have seemed impossible. There are countless stories out there and any time I hear of one I am once again motivated to pursue my dreams and do whatever it takes to make them come true. After all, why not me? Why not you? Why do some people seem to have the drive and the determination to make what seems impossible possible? Why do others stop short of the goal every time allowing their dreams to fall in heaps on the field? Continue reading »

The Reasons That I Love Having Teenagers…

 Posted by Bill on May 7, 2012  General, Raising Children as a Single Parent, Teenagers  No Responses »
May 072012
 

I can’t tell you the number of people, who when I tell them that I have teenagers say something like, “Wow that must be tough” or “Good luck, you will need it”. I don’t care, I love having teenagers. I really do. Granted I am decades away from my teen years, I can still remember what my life was like as a teenager for me. I can remember when I was honest with my parents and I can remember when I was not. I can remember all of the things that I put my parents through, granted some of the things I didn’t think were that big of a deal  they sure disagreed with me on . Believe me growing up in a family of five, where you came home when the street lights came on, gave us  allot of time to put our parents through hell. I know that my kids, or at least one of them, will do the same to me but… I still love having teenagers.

So why do you love having teenagers you ask? Why after all that you put your parents through, why after all of the warnings others are giving you, why knowing full well that the “Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” do you still love having teenagers? Well here is why in this weeks (drum roll please):

TOP 10 LIST WHY I LIKE HAVING TEENAGERS: Continue reading »

 Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Credit Where Credit Is Due.

 Posted by Michael on May 4, 2012  General  No Responses »
May 042012
 

 

 

I have a dear friend (also a single parent), whose son is graduating from THE University of Alabama today. I asked her how she felt about the accomplishment and she said it was stirring up some “weird” feelings. My kids are still young and I have several more years before high school graduation, much less college graduation, but I have to imagine some of those “weird” feelings are pride. Continue reading »

Survive ‘N’ Thrive Single Mothers’ Conference by Jennifer Maggio

 Posted by Jennifer on May 2, 2012  General  No Responses »
May 022012
 

Are you overwhelmed? Exhausted? Tired? Do you desire to connect with other single mothers from across the country? Would you love to have a conference for your kids to attend that gets them just as excited as you?

ATTENTION: ALL SINGLE MOTHERS

Join us this June 22-23, 2012 at the annual Surive ‘N’ Thrive Single Mothers Conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma! This two-day event features music, speakers, dessert, free childcare, breakout sessions, fellowship, and many surprises. Continue reading »

 Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,
Page 1 of 9112345...102030...Last »