Time Well Spent

Tags

book, co-parenting, elementary age, family, God, parenting, school age children, single parenting

If you know me or read my “About” page, you know I’m a single parent trying to do well by my children.

I was 28 when I had my first son. I felt “older” than many first-time parents and appreciated the extra time to mature before being thrust into such a significant undertaking.

Although maturity served me well in parenting, it didn’t seem to have an effect on my marriage which ended a couple years after my second son was born.

As a single parent with 2 very young sons, I had to figure out ways to complete every task with little ones in tow. One of those tasks I needed to attend to occured every few weeks: getting my hair cut (and colored…which is what made this an IMPORTANT task.)

I brought my boys along every time and sat them on the bench with their small toy. They played quietly the whole time…2 hours!! EVERY time I visited the salon, someone would look at my kids in wonder and ask me, “What do you do?”

I always felt they were hoping for a secret trick like, “I dangle a goldfish cracker on a string in front of them and repeat, ‘You will behave.'”

If you’re a parent, you know it’s never a simple answer. So, I began looking around at parents who were struggling in certain situations, and then I would write about it.

I kept writing until I felt I had a pretty complete answer to the question, ‘What do you do?”

Those answers are compiled into a concise little parenting book that’s designed to encourage and support frazzled, well-intentioned parents with no time for salons or home-cooked meals but in need of a chuckle.

National Writer’s Press recently published my book titled, Raising Amazing Grace…and Tyler, and Megan. You can find it on Amazon in paperback or Kindle version.

http://tiny.cc/l7hrqw

I am always happy to answer questions or chat about specific issues you may be facing.

Keep in mind, you may want to be a perfect parent, but a parent who makes mistakes can teach his/her children much richer lessons!

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Trust

Tags

God, parenting, teen

Being a single parent, I have grown into the type of person who feels she has to do everything herself. After 13 years of being responsible for everything in my home, I just don’t automatically think, “Who can take care of this for me?” My knee-jerk reaction is, “How am I going to take care of this?”

So, when my son told me he doesn’t believe in God, I did my knee-jerk thing: How am I going to fix this? Then I piled onto that, “I screwed up! I’m sad! I’m betrayed! I’m scared!” But, I finally settled on, “This is not mine to fix.”

With the daily miracles God heaps on me, you would think my knee-jerk reaction would be to trust Him. The fact that I have food in my refrigerator, I am able to pay EVERY bill every month, I have 2 kind, respectful and healthy children, I have friends, an education, a job, a house, a family who cares about me, TWO working vehicles, and a healthy mind and body are miraculous to me. God provides and protects every day.

My faith and salvation don’t come from me or my parents or a pastor, friend, relative, or motivational speaker. It comes from God. He chose me.

Also, Jesus died for each of us. He wants to save us. I want my son saved. If I ask him to save my son, he will do it. My request is within his will. Our salvation is from above, not from around. Thank GOD!!!

I’m not even close to being a perfect parent. The statement from my son is more evidence of that. Thankfully God IS perfect. I just need to rely on him…I NEED to rely on him.

Although I act like I’m supposed to take care of everything myself, I can’t do it. This is just a reminder to me that everything I do is because God allows it. I need to stop acting like God and submit to him. Instead of saying, “How am I going to take care of this?” I need to start saying, “How do you want to use me, God?”

And one more thing, God….please allow my son to see you!!!!!