7 Summer Tips for Single Parents

 Posted by Lisa on July 8, 2011  Balancing Work and Children, General, Organizing, Raising Children as a Single Parent  1 Response »
Jul 082011
 

The best way to enjoy yourself this summer is to be unstressed. How is that possible when you are a single mom or dad and you have to work, pay bills, and manage all that messy life stuff all the while wanting the kids to have a good time? I’m just like every other single mom, I don’t have all the answers, but I have found a few things that have helped me a long the way:

Child superhero standing on a washing machine and dryer

1. Get Organized: I know this seems like a bummer in the summer, but it helps make summer (and the rest of the year) go smoothly. Have zones or areas where things go and then GET THE KIDS WITH THE PROGRAM. (This can be a difficult at first but they catch on.) For example:
• sneakers and flip-flops go in the basket by the door, towels are hung out to dry on the patio, wet swim suits go directly in the washer.
• We have a bag that goes to the beach, another that goes to the pool. We have a plastic bag/basket with handles we got at 5 Below that hold all the goggles, snorkels, sun screen etc. We keep these things packed in the trunk of the car.
•have a small basket/caddy by the shower (easily washable) filled with soaps, shampoos, and shaving cream etc. Use and put back. This makes wiping out and cleaning the shower/tub easier.
•In the laundry have multiple baskets for whites, colors, delicates etc. Place the clothes in there as they come off so there is no sorting prior to washing. I love this tip, which comes from the Flylady. See her site for more great tips. Continue reading »

How’s The Movie In Your Mind Playing Out?

 Posted by Bill on May 9, 2011  Balancing Work and Children, Dealing with Divorce and Your Ex, Getting Your New Life In Order, Organizing, Raising Children as a Single Parent  No Responses »
May 092011
 

There is a saying that goes like this, “In life we mainly see what we look for”. I think that all of us at one time or another has looked for the worst in our situations, only to have it become our reality. Why is it that some people see themselves, and their lives, in such a negative way that they can’t seem to figure out why nothing ever goes right for them? Why is it that we as parents sometimes see the negative things in our children, and then wonder why they lose confidence in themselves? Why is it that we are all products of what our minds tell us, rather than what are dreams instill in us?

Our minds are like a movie, replaying over and over again what we see in them. If we constantly see the past, present or future as a negative thing, then that is how our movie will play out. If we see our children never amounting to anything, then that is the movie we will portray to them. If we see every little thing that has gone wrong with our lives as a bad thing, rather than a lesson, then we will never be able to create a happy ending to our movie.

Our experiences are just life’s lessons, not defining moments. They are just one of the the scenes in our movie that occurred prior to us becoming wiser. Never forget that your mind is constantly creating a movie that is playing right before you. Even more importantly, never forget that you are the director, producer and writer of you own movie. If you want to create a sad ending you can do that, but if you want to create a happy ending, where all of your dreams come true, then you can do that as well. It is all up to YOU and only YOU. Why not start today creating an Academy Award winning movie that will bring you happiness, joy and success for not only you, but your entire family. Continue reading »

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“You Had Me At Hello”

 Posted by Bill on March 28, 2011  Balancing Work and Children, Dealing with Divorce and Your Ex, General, Getting Your New Life In Order, How to Communicate with Your Kids, Organizing, Raising Children as a Single Parent, Taking Time for Yourself, Teenagers  No Responses »
Mar 282011
 

In the 1986 movie “Jerry Maguire” there is a famous line where Jerry (Tom Cruise) flies back home to meet Dorothy ( Renee Zellweger) to tell her that he loves her and wants her in his life, and she tells him “You had me at hello”. What made that line so famous was that although the couple had been arguing for sometime, those five words “You had me at hello” said it all.

Sometimes in life when we say less, we are actually saying more!

When I was growing up,  my friends and I would pass each other in the hall and nod our heads. It was our way of acknowledging each other. Nodding our heads was our way of letting the other person know that they meant something to us. Nodding our heads said it all. Continue reading »

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Everything I Need To Know About Life I learned In The Last 60 Days!

 Posted by Bill on March 14, 2011  Balancing Work and Children, Dealing with Divorce and Your Ex, General, Getting Your New Life In Order, How to Communicate with Your Kids, Organizing, Raising Children as a Single Parent, Taking Time for Yourself, Teenagers, The Craziness of Single Parenting, Uncategorized  3 Responses »
Mar 142011
 

What have I been doing with my life? I always thought that life was suppose to teach me things each and every step of the way. As a young boy I attended school every day because I was told that it would teach me things that I didn’t already know. I graduated from college thinking that I would be wiser from the experience. I have tried and failed on my own for what seems like forever, because I was told that life lessons are invaluable. Imagine my surprise when I finally realized that “Everything I Need To Know About Life I learned In The Last 60 Days”! . Here are the things that I have learned about life over the past 60 days.

* Hard work does pay off.

* Time spent by yourself is the best way to reflect upon what’s important to you, and only you. It’s also a great way to calm your mind. Continue reading »

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My Wish…

 Posted by Bill on December 13, 2010  Balancing Work and Children, Dealing with Divorce and Your Ex, General, Getting Your New Life In Order, Organizing, Raising Children as a Single Parent  1 Response »
Dec 132010
 

My blog last week  A Letter To Sara, My Deceased Ex. Wife apparently hit a chord with so many of you. I want to thank all of you who called me, emailed me and shared the blog with your friends. The problem one has when they open up as I did, is then following it up with a new blog that has as much feeling in it.

As I contemplated this weekend what to write so many thoughts went through my head. What can I share that will have the same meaning? How am I going to follow up my last blog with anything even close to the emotion and feelings that I did last week? Then I heard “The Song”. “The Song” that has always struck a chord in my heart for my kids. “The Song” that I pray Jack and Michaela will never forget the words too. “The Song” that I have actually copied the lyrics too and intend to hand to both of my kids when they leave home and go out into the world on their own. I hope that you enjoy it and maybe, just maybe, it will strike a chord in your heart as well this holiday season.

Continue reading »

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I Survived My First “Black Friday”, Barely…

 Posted by Bill on November 29, 2010  How to Communicate with Your Kids, Organizing, Raising Children as a Single Parent, Single Entrepreneur Mom, Taking Time for Yourself, Teenagers, The Craziness of Single Parenting  1 Response »
Nov 292010
 

When I was a child “Black Friday” represented that time each night, when the lights went out, and I had to go to bed. When I was in high school “Black Friday” represented the day that my report card came home ( I was a 2.something GPA kid). When I was in my twenty’s “Black Friday” represented the next day at work, after coming in from the night before at 1:30 am. Now that I am a dad to a fourteen year old “Black Friday” has taken on a  brand new meaning.

Last week my daughter asked me if  I would go to “Black Friday” with her? Why not, I don’t mind getting up at 6:30 a.m. to spend some quality time with Michaela. Then she informed me that we would be getting up at 4:00 a.m. What? “Only the crazy people get up at 4:00 a.m. to shop” I said. “No way Dad”, in order to get the best deals we need to be there no later than 4:20. “Alright honey lets do it” I said.

Well Friday morning came and Michaela handed me a folder detailing our agenda for the day. She had every store that we would be going to listed, coupons for each store, what I was required to get at each store, and believe it or not, the floor plan of each store. Needless to say she is a bit organized. We started out at Super Target. My first thought was who in their right mind would go to Super Target at 4:00 am. Don’t most “Black Friday” shoppers go to the mall or some electronics store? At least those are the videos I see each year on TV of the the ensuing chaos that accompanies “Black Friday”. How wrong was I? When we arrived at 4:20 a.m. there was not one shopping cart left in the entire store. Luckily for me my only job was to find the “Vampire Diaries Collection” at 75% off.  Fortunately, this did not require a shopping cart. Unfortunately, Michael’s list did require a shopping cart, so there I am at 4:35 a.m. following shoppers out to their car to get their cart from them and head back in to meet Michaela. One thing that I learned about shoppers on “Black Friday” is that, although they may show up in slippers and PJ’s, do not underestimate their resolve. There is nothing scarier than a woman hopped up on coffee and Red Bull, coupon’s in hand, and a shopping cart without brakes headed right for you. I can personally attest to the fact ,that you are best served to stay out of the thier way,  and concede the last I-Pod to them. If you don’t, I guarantee that  you are going to get ran over. Continue reading »

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Hitting The Nail On The Head

 Posted by Bill on November 22, 2010  Balancing Work and Children, Dealing with Divorce and Your Ex, General, Getting Your New Life In Order, How to Communicate with Your Kids, Organizing  1 Response »
Nov 222010
 

I am told that in order to have a successful blog, you have to either entertain, educate, pose a question or share a story. I have tried too at one time or another do all of the above here on my blog. Sometimes I believe that I am successful, and at other times I am not sure. It’s kind of like raising children, sometimes your the hammer and then at other times you are the nail. Either way I thought that today I would try to educate you with a few tips from Chapter One of my new book “Kickin’ Butt as a Single Parent – 99 Tips that Every Single Parent Must Have”. I hope that these tips help you to hit the nail on the head today.

Getting Your New Life in Order Continue reading »

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