Are You In Denial?

 Posted by Bill on May 15, 2011  Balancing Work and Children, Dealing with Divorce and Your Ex, Nutrition, Raising Children as a Single Parent, Single Entrepreneur Mom, Taking Time for Yourself  3 Responses »
May 152011
 

Today I want to challenge each and everyone of you with my blog. I want to challenge you to be brutally honest with yourself and ask yourself just one question “Are you in Denial?”. I will bet that the majority of you will emphatically answer NO. I’m not in denial, I fully accept what has gone on in my life, what is going on in my life and why it has all happened, I have no regrets… But I will say to you right now that you ARE in denial, you just don’t know it yet. First let’s understand what denial is.

Webster’s Dictionary defines Denial as:

Refusal to admit the truth or reality (as of a statement or charge) (2) : assertion that an allegation is false. Continue reading »

 Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What Riding a Roller Coaster Has Taught Me!

 Posted by Bill on April 4, 2011  Balancing Work and Children, Dealing with Divorce and Your Ex, General, Getting Your New Life In Order, How to Communicate with Your Kids, Raising Children as a Single Parent, Single Entrepreneur Mom, Teenagers, The Craziness of Single Parenting, Uncategorized  1 Response »
Apr 042011
 

When I was young, my friends and I would go to the local amusement park each summer and ride the roller coaster. Damn that roller coaster would scare me, but I was not about to be the first one to say it. I was convinced that each time I would get on it, would be the day that it was going come off the tracks and violently hurl me through the air to my inevitable death.  No matter how many times I rode that roller coaster, the same thought would rush through my head. In reality the roller coaster never did breakdown, let alone slam anyone into the ground, but that sure didn’t keep fear from entering my mind.

Now that I am older I still go on roller coasters and in the back of my mind I still believe that today might just be the day that the damn thing finally breaks down. Fortunately for me my past experiences tend to remind me that it just isn’t going to happen.

It’s funny how the life of a parent is like riding a roller coaster. It starts off slowly as you lean back in the seat, looking up at the blue sky above, without a worry in the world. Oh sure, you know that inevitably there are going to be some twists and turns but nothing that you can’t handle. Then reality hits! Before you know it your life is spiraling downward, your stomach drops and you start praying to God to save you. Please God just let me survive this fall and I will make sure that I do it right as a parent. Then just when you get a break from the fall, and before you can catch your breath, the next twist and turn is before you. Your mind races, your heart pounds and you hang on for all you life praying that you will survive. And when you finally are convinced that today is the day that you are going to be hurled off to your death, the ride comes to a sudden stop, and you slowly coast into the safety of the platform. Continue reading »

 Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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 »

 Tagged with:

I Feel Bad For Two Parent Households

 Posted by Bill on November 8, 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, Raising Children as a Single Parent, Single Entrepreneur Mom, Taking Time for Yourself, Teenagers, The Craziness of Single Parenting, Uncategorized  8 Responses »
Nov 082010
 

OK now that I have your attention let me explain. For years, all I have heard is how tough it is for the single parent. How we have to do it all on our own. How we have no one to help. How we have so little time for ourselves and so much work. How our kids will be effected because they are being raised by a single parent. How sad it is. Well let me inform you all of one thing, I feel blessed to be raising my kids on my own. Oh sure it would be nice to have some extra help and a little more free time every now and then, but that’s life. As the saying goes “Stuff happens”. Get over it…  Stuff happens in every household. Below is a list of “stuff” that I, and only I, get to experience as a single parent.

  1. I’m on call 24/7. I like that, as it gives me a sense of purpose
  2. When the kids got hurt I got to kiss every boo-boo.
  3. I recognize fully that my children are uniquely gifted and valuable individuals because I get to watch it happen each and every day.
  4. I get to plan every birthday party and get 100% of the credit. This too gives me a sense of purpose.
  5. I get to create a warm and loving home, all by myself.
  6. I’m the one they call when they are sick at school.
  7. I’m also the one who misses work to take care of them.
  8. I get to teach them the value of friendships.
  9. I get to help them make good decisions on a daily basis, or at least watch as they lean from their bad decisions.
  10. I am the one that gets to take them school cloths shopping every time.
  11. I know everything about their medical and school records.
  12. The report cards always come to me.
  13. I am the only one that has to live by my decisions as a parent
  14. No ones tells me, “You should spend more time with the kids”.
  15. I know the difference between “wants” and “needs”.
  16. I get to teach my children how to be responsible for themselves.
  17. I have to demonstrate resilience and determination every day.
  18. Your kids know they’re loved.
  19. Your kids are proud of you, too.

You see there are really so many benefits to being a single parent. Am I exhausted at times? Sure I am, but it is a good exhaustion. Do I miss having extra free time? Sure I do, but on the flip side, I get too spend more time with my kids? Do I wish that I had more help? Definitely, but there is no greater satisfaction than knowing I am totally responsible for the kids. Do I have a fear that I may do something wrong? Yes I do, but fear is a great motivator. It motivates me to keep a smile on my face, hope in my heart and a belief that someday when my kids are older, they are going to say those four words to me and only me, that will bring me to my knees. Continue reading »

 Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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 »

New Year’s Resolutions Vs. Real 2010 Goals

 Posted by Keith on December 27, 2009  Balancing Work and Children, Getting Your New Life In Order, Single Entrepreneur Mom, Taking Time for Yourself  1 Response »
Dec 272009
 

I know, I can’t believe it either…2009 is almost vapor.

Wow, time just races doesn’t it?  Every year it seems like I am saying something like, “I can’t believe it’s October already.”

How would you rate 2009?

Was it your best year ever?  The worst?  Was it somewhere between “so-so” and “fricken awesome?” Continue reading »

 Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Getting organized for parents of Autistic children

 Posted by Tracy on December 16, 2009  Balancing Work and Children, Dealing with Divorce and Your Ex, General, Single Entrepreneur Mom, Taking Time for Yourself, Uncategorized  No Responses »
Dec 162009
 

In January, I have been asked to do a speaking engagement to a support group of parents of autistic children. This subject is very near to my heart since I have a family member who is autistic. What I’ve learned about autistic children is they need to have, more than other children, routine and structure and don’t handle change too easily and therefore have a difficult time transitioning from one activity to the next. Add to that, they also experience sensory overload and get overwhelmed when their environment is too stimulated with things like loud noises. Some autistic children are more higher functioning then others but the bottom line is having an organized and structured environment is crucial to their daily well being.

I watched an episode of Extreme Home Makeover the other day with a friend. This family had two parents who were both deaf and a son who was not only autistic but blind. Their oldest son was the only one without any disabilities and he was the rock for the family, helping in every way he could. I truly don’t remember crying as hard as I did since I saw the Notebook over the love this family had for each other. Their light absolutely radiated from them. And watching the town rally for them gives me goose bumps to even think about it. It also helped me to understand even more what my family member goes through on a daily basis and it truly broke my heart.

I can imagine that a parent who is typically disorganized and un-structured will be forced into becoming organized and structured for the sake of their children. That can prove very challenging for those that have never lived there lives that way. But getting organized doesn’t have to be a gigantic project that all has to be tackled right away. In fact, I would bet that, since autistic children don’t handle change well, it would be a better idea to take the project in phases. As a professional organizer, that is how I encourage my clients to handle their clutter anyway. In phases. The mistake a lot of people make when it comes to deciding to tackle their clutter is they don’t break it down into manageable pieces, accurately estimate how long it will take, actually put it down on their calendar as an actual appointment, and put measures in place to hold themselves accountable during the process. This is where hiring a professional can help. We are able to be realistic with your situation and help you handle what can be realistically done in a realistic time frame with your realistic abilities. Continue reading »

Page 1 of 212