Not today…….by Jennifer Maggio

 Posted by Jennifer on November 10, 2010  General  2 Responses »
Nov 102010
 

We’re on a journey together, you and I.  Life is all about the journey.  Today, as I thought about what to write, through tears,  I realized that today’s post would just have to be about my journey, about where I am, right now.  I couldn’t give today— no advice, no wisdom, no wit.  Not today……. Albeit random, here goes.

Today is filled with great emotion for me.  As you read this, I am in attendance at yet a 5th funeral in 5 weeks!  It’s unheard of.  Five people that I know personally– that I had relationships with, friends, family  – have gone on to be with the Lord.  I wrote about two of those deaths  ”Are You Living a Life Worth Celebrating?” at http://www.singleparentstown.com/blog/2010/10/13/jennifer/are-you-living-a-life-worth-celebrating/.

The most recent passing, last Sunday, of a 22-year-old who was killed at our church Sunday morning, has been so traumatic, so hard.  Yet, his life truly was a life worth celebrating.  Read about Jordan at  http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=13459299. Continue reading »

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Ghetto Fighting by Jennifer Maggio

 Posted by Jennifer on November 3, 2010  General  8 Responses »
Nov 032010
 

I know — the title got ya!  Well, for my 5 or 6 highly-refined, cultured readers, I must caution you.  You probably won’t have a clue where I’m going with this.  For the rest of you, enjoy!

As I travel and speak in different venues, I try to be very open and real with my audience.  Therefore, my stories are usually pretty uninhibited.  I am reminded this morning of one story in particular.

As I’ve shared often now, I didn’t come from money or refinement.  I wasn’t in Charm School learning how to cross my legs and smile ever-so-slightly, as my Southern gentleman swept me off my feet.  Quite the opposite. I grew up on a farm with dirt between my toes, picking peas and corn, and driving tractors.  My dad married a total of six times, and there was always drama! It wasn’t uncommon to hear of adult women at a basketball game duking it out or two high school girls cat-fighting over a boy.  In fact, in high school, I witnessed two girls getting stabbed, a gang fight breaking out, and a classmate getting his head pounded open, later needing stitches.  That was my life.  (Just wait……………………I’m going somewhere with this.) Continue reading »

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Oh, I’m Sorry, Were You Offended?

 Posted by Jennifer on October 27, 2010  General  7 Responses »
Oct 272010
 

Since I’m writing to a group of single parents, I figured we needed to go ahead and put this one out there – OFFENSE.  Man, oh man, how I sprint to avoid bitter and offended folks!  Let me give you a news flash.  Your hurt, your offense, your bitterness, your unforgivness does nothing to THEIR lives.  It does not hurt your ex-mother-in-law, your ex-husband, or your ex-boyfriend.  In fact, they’ve probably forgotten what they did to offend you in the first place.

In having counseled literally hundreds of single moms, I can tell you that I have never sat with one mom who didn’t have a reason to be angry or hurt – not one.  They all have a story.  We all have a story. 

I was astonished to recently stumble upon a single parent’s site that promoted “Tell-us-why-you-hate-your-baby’s-daddy Day”.  Are you kidding me?!  Am I the only one that sees the insanity in this?!  What do you hope to accomplish?  So…………..we paint little George’s daddy as a complete loser for not paying you child support or for beating you or whatever (albeit horrible things), then………. what?  Who does it hurt?  Let me answer this for you.  YOU.  It hurts you.  For every time you relive the pain and revisit the conversations or the events that devastated you, you live in that moment.   It’s amazing that we sometimes cannot remember where we parked after a 15-minute grocery trip to Walmart, but we can remember for the next 15 years the exact conversation where someone offended us! Continue reading »

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Isn’t Life Funny?

 Posted by Jennifer on October 20, 2010  General  1 Response »
Oct 202010
 

If you would’ve told me 15 years ago that I was going to be a successful author, speaker, and mother of three kids, AND BE HAPPILY MARRIED………I would’ve laughed in your face.  Isn’t it funny how life comes full circle and all those bumpy roads that you traveled before somehow seem worth it?  They make you who you are today.

Let’s rewind 15 years for a moment, shall we?   I was 18 years old and had just given birth to my first child.  I was homeless and helpless.  A few months later, I found myself living on government assistance and in government housing.  I was making $6.00/hour to make ends meet and support my son.  We had no furniture, only a few clothes, little food, and it was pitiful!

I had just spent the first 18 years of my life in an underground hell.  My mother was killed unexpectedly when I was a small child, so I was raised by my alcoholic father who married a total of 6 times.  The marriages didn’t include all the girlfriends and mistresses.  My home was a mess.  I started being molested at 3 years old, and for 9 years I suffered horrific acts at the hands of multiple perpetrators.   Through the years, I was beaten, choked, malnourished, forced to steal, and force to view pornography — never breathing a word of any of this to another living soul.   Desperate for attention, I started having sex at 13 and found myself pregnant twice in high school (having miscarriages both times).  By the third pregnancy my senior year, I was a walking time bomb.  This is where I found myself 15 years ago.  Continue reading »

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Are you living a life worth celebrating?

 Posted by Jennifer on October 13, 2010  General  2 Responses »
Oct 132010
 

      I have hundreds of topics to share about and many stories already lined out for this blog. I want to talk about the hard things of single parenting, the fun times of raising children, the excitement of falling in love, but…………I’ve decided to take a different direction today.

Our family has suffered tremendous loss this week.  My husband’s grandfather passed away at 86 years old, having been married to his wife for 60+ years, served in WWII, and fathered 3 children.  He lived a full life and died surrounded with family and friends. 

Our church family lost an awesome man of God, Dave Ohlerking (pictured above).  Dave was 70 years old, married to a wonderful woman, and the founder of Children’s Cup Ministries, one of the most influential organizations in the country in African missions.  He and his organization have literally worked with thousands of people through the years, bringing them food, clothes, and friendship.  Continue reading »

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Intro to the World of Jennifer Maggio

 Posted by Jennifer on October 6, 2010  General  3 Responses »
Oct 062010
 

What an honor and privilege to be part of Single Parents Town!  My thanks go out to Bill McLeod for extending this opportunity.  Oh, the good times, we are going to have and the stories I’ll share!!I have thought of a thousand different ways to introduce myself.  I wear many hats, have many passions, but I thought this picture described me best.  I am a mom first.  

I have three children–a 15-year-old boy, 13-year-old girl, and 3-year-old girl.  Yes, I waited an entire 10 years and started over again!  Many of you are fainting right now at the very thought of waiting 10 years to start again.  Life is certainly interesting with two teenagers and a toddler in the home, to say the least.  My children are true blessings and each are very different.  My 15-year-old son is a 6’1 football and basketball star.  He is handsome, charming, funny, and independent.  My 13-year-old daughter is beautiful.  She is very tall and a graceful ballet dancer, as well as talented basketball and volleyball player.  She is loud, like her mom.  My 3-year-old baby girl is such a joy.  The first time around, when I was a single parent, I wasn’t able to enjoy the little things that babies and toddlers bring.  This time, I have.  I have enjoyed learning her personality and she has been such an “easy” child – perhaps it’s because I’m more experienced now.

I am also happily married.  I have been married for almost 8 years now and truly did meet the man of my dreams, in fact, far beyond what I could have hoped for.  I hope to share some of my journey through marriage here and inspire you that yes, you can find love again. Continue reading »

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