Abuse in Single Parent Homes by Jennifer Maggio

 Posted by Jennifer on June 8, 2011  General  2 Responses »
Jun 082011
 

 I have thought of a thousand ways to start this article.  Abuse is such a deep issue that there is simply no way I can cover all that I would like to say or all that you may want to hear…..or may not want to hear for that matter in one article.  I will definitely be revisiting this topic.   I absolutely hate covering such a heavy topic —yet, it is the one that keeps coming back to me, the one that I know I must write.

Abuse comes in many forms — sexual, physical, emotional, and verbal.  Every form of abuse hurts.  The truth is, many can move past the physical beatings of a past abuse far more quickly than the words that accompanied them.  There are many who will not read this article for fear that it takes them right back to when they were a 10-year-old frightened abused girl or a 27-year-old battered wife.  For those who are brave enough, read on.

Since many of you follow my articles here at Single Parents Town, you know my story. For those who don’t, the short version is that I’ve suffered through years of abuse - sexual abuse, physical beatings, domestic violence, emotional manipulation, verbal assault, etc.  This is a topic that once held me captive.  It embarassed me and shamed me.  But now, I have been given great freedom over it and am moved to action in helping others do the same.  Continue reading »

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School is Out!!!!! by Jennifer Maggio

 Posted by Jennifer on June 1, 2011  General  No Responses »
Jun 012011
 

Woohoo!!!! School’s out! School’s out!  I am probably more excited than my kids. No more homework. No more fussing about tests.  No more sitting in endless car lines.  Summer is here.  Enjoy. Enjoy.  The weather is hot.  The pool is cool  And we…….are enjoying some time off!

Single parents, make it a point to enjoy some time off with your kids.  Maybe vacationing is not in your budget, but a vacation-at-home sure can be.  Choose to turn off  your cell phones, televisions, and game stations for a weekend.  Take long walks at your local park or in your neighborhood.  Make a craft.  Start a scrapbook.  Spend time with your children.  Get to know them in a new way.  Make every second count.  It all passes too quickly. Continue reading »

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True Gratitude by Jennifer Maggio

 Posted by Jennifer on May 25, 2011  General  No Responses »
May 252011
 

I was driving along this morning and if I am to be really honest with you, I was feeling quite sorry for myself.  My family and I have undergone tremendous hardship over the last 60 days and I needed a pity party.   I have felt like it has been pretty close to the brink of “too much”.  Maybe you’ve been there.  Maybe you know the feelings of exhaustion, stress, pressure, and anger, of which I write.  

As I was driving along, I began to pray about why God would allow me to endure such hardship.  Of course, we all have them, but today, I wasn’t really worried about anybody’s else’s hardships – just my own.  All of a sudden, I had a very random, yet profound thought. 

 ”Imagine your life without contacts.”  Continue reading »

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Starting a Single Moms Ministry by Jennifer Maggio

 Posted by Jennifer on May 18, 2011  General  3 Responses »
May 182011
 

I continue to be honored to be part of the team at Single Parents Town, as they allow me the perfect avenue to express thoughts and share a nugget or two of wisdom.  Bill McLeod (founder of Single Parents Town) and his team do an excellent job providing value and insight to the single parent walk, so here’s a shout-out to Bill and friends for letting me be part!

I am best known for my work nationwide with single moms and churches, so it stands to reason that my most frequent questions come from those that are currently in ministry.  For those who have not started a single moms support group, they often question how to get one started.  For those who have started a group, they become frustrated when it is not growing. 

I have been fortunate enough to work with the greatest church on the planet, Healing Place Church, and this has allowed me to gain great wisdom and insight on what does and does not work within the walls of the church on ministering to single mothers.  I am excited to announce that my next book, The Church and the Single Mom, will be out in June 2011, and addresses many issues in relation to single moms, the church, and getting active on helping with the single parenting issues, but……..until then, I wanted to provide a few quick tips. Continue reading »

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The Church and the Single Mom by Jennifer Maggio

 Posted by Jennifer on May 4, 2011  General  No Responses »
May 042011
 

It is with great excitement that I announce my upcoming book, The Church and the Single Mom, will be available in just a few weeks.  It truly has been an exciting journey to see this project take shape.

Years ago, I took my very first job at a pizza place. As a young single mom, I really needed that job. I even showed up in a business suit for the interview!  Some time later, I took a job in office management and would often bring paperwork home, because I wanted my office to run efficiently.  The same has been true for this new book.  It truly has been a labor of love. I have labored over exactly what to say, how to say it, and how to make the most impact on a much-needed, yet rarely-addressed topic.  The Church and the Single Mom broaches a subject that many would want to avoid.  It clearly defines exactly what is going on in the country in reference to single parenting, why we should care, and exactly what we can do about it.  It is a challenging book that was written from a deep place within me that longs for others to open their eyes and see. 

I have been honored to have some of the most prestigous single parent experts to endorse the book, including Bill McLeod, founder of Single Parents Town Continue reading »

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Effective Single Parenting by Jennifer Maggio

 Posted by Jennifer on March 30, 2011  General  No Responses »
Mar 302011
 

     Proverbs 31:27-28 “She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing to laziness.  Her children stand and bless her.”  As parents, I think we all have that deep desire that as our children become adults, they will stand and recognize all the sacrifices we made, the rules we implemented, and bless us for it.  They will be proud of how we raised them.  We hope to see the fruits of our labor.

     I read the above passage recently for probably the 100th time and something stood out to me that had never stood out before.  We tend to cling to “her children stand and bless her” because that is the result.  But………….what are the four words prior to it?   ”…SUFFERS NOTHING TO LAZINESS.”

     It is not by accident that the words are placed strategically there.  Parenting is work — simple as that, even if you have a two-parent home, but certainly when you are a single parent.  It requires intention and planning.   This is when children feel secure — no matter their age.  Too often, with the weight of financial planning, emotional stresses, and exhaustion, we simply “give in” and do not effectively parent.  We lose structure, because we are too tired to implement it.   I know I have been guilty. Continue reading »

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