There is something so exciting about a new year, a new beginning, a fresh start.
What is it that you are hopeful for? What dream is in your heart that you dare not speak aloud? What new beginning do you need? What is it that has held you down for so long and you do not want to carry that burden into another year? Continue reading »
Let me start off by challenging you with my powerful 5-minute video at Jennifer Maggio on You Tube.
That paints a pretty grim picture, doesn’t it? These aren’t debatable statistics. This is fact,verified and substantiated. Is that to say that there aren’t successful single parents all over the country? Of course not! There are many who are successful, determined, and parenting effectively, but…..the truth is that many, many are not! Continue reading »
Working with hundreds of single moms, it is almost inevitable that this time of year means that my phone rings more often and my emails increase significantly, as many are suffering with the onset of the holiday blues. I have a few quick tips that have proven to be very helpful for others, so I thought I’d relay them to you.
You may be thinking, “Jennifer, how can I enjoy the holidays when my spouse just left me (or I’m all alone)?” or “How am I supposed to be festive when I have no money to put gifts under the tree?”
Here goes, simple and to-the-point: Continue reading »
As I told you last week, this is my absolute favorite time of year. I love the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping. I love Christmas lights, family time together, cooler weather, opening and sharing gifts, Christmas songs— the whole thing!
And although I now share the holidays with a spouse, I remember all-too-well when I was a single parent. I remember receiving my $50 Christmas bonus at 3:00pm on Christmas Eve and having to rush to the local dollar store to purchase gifts for my children and stretch every penny. I remember feeling sad that we opened Christmas presents alone, rather than with some male figure in our lives. I felt sorry for myself, every step of the way. And………..I do remember when it all changed. My perspective changed. I was Overwhelmed with my bills, Overwhelmed with my loneliness, Overwhelmed with my parenting alone………..then it all changed. I began to be thankful for that car I drove, house I lived in, and healthy children I had. I began being thankful for that last-minute Christmas bonus, rather than complaining that it didn’t come sooner. I began being thankful I was no longer in a dead-end relationship, rather than focusing on my “aloneness”.
This is why I wrote Overwhelmed: The Life of a Single Mom. I have casually mentioned my book here at Single Parents Town, but haven’t told you why I wrote it or what it is. I wrote it because I truly do have a passion to see single parents make it, to see them thrive, to see their children successful. Continue reading »
This is my absolute favorite time of year! It is. I have hardly been able to wait to put the Christmas tree up and listen to Christmas music (which I haven’t done yet). I love driving around looking at Christmas lights with my family. I love the colder weather. I love giving presents to my kids.
At this time of year, it is pretty common to begin to hear more about thankfulness. Some of us go around the Thanksgiving table and share one thing we are thankful for. Others write lists of those things. We mention things, such as family and friends and possessions.
I recently shared some thoughts about the holiday season with my single moms group that I work with; and yesterday at church, I heard one of the best sermons on thankfulness that I’ve heard in a while. The thoughts were similar, so I thought I’d combine them and and share a few here. Continue reading »
(Proceed with caution. This one may hurt a bit.)
If I had to choose one area that has been an on-going struggle with me (not that there haven’t been many), this would be it. I have strong convictions and am very opinionated. I believe there may be one or two of you out there like me, so I offer you my thoughts.
Years ago, as I’ve mentioned, I found myself a homeless unwed teen mom who eventually landed a corporate job for a major Fortune 500 company. I gained a great deal of knowledge and experience within that company. I developed my public speaking skills and organization skills. I made a great living for my family. I enjoyed lavish vacations. My confidence grew.
But something else began to happen. The larger my success, the bigger my ego grew! With increased confidence came increased arrogance and a total lack of humility. If a supervisor tried to give me direction, I became defensive. If an employee didn’t agree with me, I ruled with an iron fist and brought the hammer down! Continue reading »
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 »