Since it is Monday and the new week is upon us, I thought that I would share with you a job description that a friend of mine recently shared with me. I have posted this blog once before but believe that it it is worth repeating. I hope that it brings a smile to your face and starts your weekend off on the right foot. It is hilarious and something we can all relate to.
POSITION:
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma Continue reading »
They say that practice makes perfect. I have decided that whoever said that was obviously not a parent. I have practiced at being a good parent ever since day one, and I continue to practice at it each and every day. Last week I thought that I had finally figured it out, and then my 15 year old teenage daughter reminded me that I have a long way to go. Funny how teenagers seem to think that they know everything. I am starting to think that parenting is allot like the game of golf. No matter how much you practice, you will never get it totally right. Oh you may score well every once in awhile, but just when you start to think that you’ve got it figured out, you slice one it into the woods and end up taking a penalty stroke. Over the years I have had my share of penalty strokes with my kids.
I recently posted this saying on my Facebook page and to my surprise got quite the response from people. It seems that at one time or another we have all been guilty of making someone our priority, when we were just their option.
I am sure that so many of you who are divorced feel this way, after all it is usually the one who has had enough of making everyone else their priority, without feeling appreciated themselves, that finally says enough and files for divorce. There are also those out there who are such constant caregivers that they always seem to find themselves making everyone else their priority, while they are just someone else’s option. Sound familiar to any of you? How about the person who divorces, and after the proper amount of time decides to date again, only to find themselves in need of attention and comfort so bad, that they once again “make someone their priority, while they only make them their option”.
What is it that drives so many people to this unhealthy and never ending cycle of frustration and pain? What is that blinds people to the obvious? Why can’t they see the forest through the trees or their nose in spite of their face? Why would you want to ever make someone else your priority when they only make you their option? Continue reading »
I have decided to change my kid’s names from Jack and Michaela to Dow and NASDAQ. Why you ask? It’s because I believe that raising them is like investing in the stock market. As long as I put something into them each month, I am bound to get a good return on my investment. At least that’s what the experts tell me. Recently I have found that my success with the kids has been similar to my recent returns in the stock market. Dismal! I have scratched my head, reviewed my parental investing strategy and made some adjustments. But still I am not seeing the returns that I had hoped for. I keep telling myself that’s its not how I start but how I finish. This would make sense if I was a marathon runner, but as a single dad I am a sprinter. I sprint from school event to sporting event, from grocery store to doctor’s appointments, from homework assignments to dinners. I want to see a return NOW!
My financial planner tells me to have patience. Follow the plan, and that all things are difficult before they are easy. Easy for him to say, he’s getting paid monthly on what I invest with him. I want to see a return NOW!
I know that I am not the only single parent that wants a return on his investment NOW. Why does this have to be so difficult? You give, you love, you encourage, you discipline and you lead, but still I am not seeing the results. I want a return NOW! Continue reading »
I am blessed to have here at www.singleparentstown.com the greatest single parent bloggers in the world. Michele, Jennifer, Davis, Michael and Roxy are amazing single parents who each and every week share their stories with you in such a way, that it makes you feel like they speaking to you one on one. They have all been through so much as a parent. Many of them, me included, have lost a spouse to death or addiction. Some have experienced homelessness, abandonment and poverty. Some have remarried and some have re-divorced. Some have found God to be their ultimate source of strength and some have found their experiences to be their source of life. The number one thing that I love about each of them is that they speak from experience, they speak from their hearts and they share easy and concise stories and tips that make a difference in so many people’s lives.
What also impresses me about our bloggers is that the stories and tips they share are things that more times than not, we already know. I thought that today I would share with you some insight about things that I am sure you, already know. My hope is that by reminding you what you already know, that you will be able to put to use these things so that not only your life, but the lives of your family, will be the better because of it. After reading my thoughts below, I would be honored if you would add to the list by commenting. That way all who read this blog will be better because of what you have brought to their attention about what they already know.
I wrote this blog sometime back and wanted to repost it for all of you. Life is funny how it moves forward, sometimes to fast and sometimes to slow, but rest assured it will continue to move forward. I hope that this blog today helps you understand that life is like a train ride and only you have the pleasure of being on the entire ride from start to finish. Have an amazing day everyone…
Someone once told me that life is like taking a train ride. The unique part about it is that from start to finish, you and only you, will be the only one on the entire ride. Oh sure others will join you for part of your ride, but again you and only you, will be the only one on the entire ride. The ride usually starts off slowly and calmly, but before you know it the train picks up speed and you seem to be flying along faster than you might be comfortable with. There will be twists and turns, peaks and valleys, happiness and sadness along the way, but again you and only you, will be the only one on the entire ride. The train will occasionally stop along the way and others will join you, but again you and only you, will be the only one on the entire ride.
I often have thought about the times on the ride, where we knew that we were about to enter a dark tunnel, and just couldn’t seem to do anything about it. It’s just part of our ride. Once in the tunnel darkness consumes us, and depending upon the length of the tunnel, our fear of disaster is heightened. We worry that our ride is about to turn into a train wreck. What I have learned on my ride, especially during those trips into darkness, is that we always come out of the tunnel to the light again. I have also learned that since I will surly exit the tunnel intact, I sure as the heck want to make sure that I don’t do anything, while in the darkness, that I will be embarrassed for, ashamed of or regret once I come out of the tunnel. I want to approach each and every dark tunnel with confidence, hope and dignity because again, I will exit the tunnel, and I and only I, will be the only one on the entire ride. Continue reading »