It’s That Time of Year Again

Doing taxes can be intimidating for anyone, but as a single parent it seems that they become much more complicated and the task much more daunting. Most divorced couples switch off every other year claiming the kids. This can get rather complicated if you’re unfamiliar with filing your taxes. They ask all kinds of questions about who the child lives with and who provides more than half of the child’s expenses. Entering in this information can be tedious, especially if you aren’t the one that gets to claim the kids that year. Just because they live with you and you … Continue reading

Crafts for Less

Logan and I have always loved doing crafts together, but they can get rather pricey if you’re not careful. When I got divorced I was afraid this little bonding time would be over. How could I possibly afford to get craft supplies when I could barely get food on the table? This year all those uncertainties have gone out the window. I discovered the joy of crafting for less! Logan and I have been doing countless Christmas crafts this year. Tonight I pulled out the popsicle sticks. If you look hard enough you can usually find a box of 1000 … Continue reading

Entertaining Your Little Ones

When you have little ones running around it can be hard to entertain them day in and day out. Their little attention spans require a wide range of activities to keep them busy and as a single mom running from one thing to the other all day it can be hard to think of simple things to keep them from getting bored during the day. I’m not sure what people did before the internet, but lucky for you, there are a ton of fun ideas to do with your kids, especially during the winter months when you can’t send them … Continue reading

Alone on Halloween?

As a single parent, when little trick-or-treaters show up at your door and your own little trick-or-treater is away at his other parent’s for the night it can be especially difficult. Before you became a parent you dreamed of nights like this, never expecting to miss out on them every other year. I have been lucky enough that I have always gotten to see Logan on the holidays. His dad and I have always split them so that Logan had the opportunity to see both of us on every single holiday, but from the sound of it, I may not … Continue reading

Halloween Safety

It’s the night before Halloween. The kids are getting anxious to get out there and start trick-or-treating. Before long ghosts and goblins will be running the streets looking for some Halloween fun, but don’t forget to remind your kids about the importance of staying safe on Halloween this year. Most kids know that they’re supposed to look both ways before crossing the street, but sometimes in the excitement of everything they forget the basic things they’ve been taught from the time they were two. Remind them to never go into a stranger’s home. If they tell you to come in … Continue reading

Providing Stability Through Schedules

By far one of the most difficult things you will face as you are going through the divorce process is the issue of parent time, formerly known as visitation. It is important to have this spelled out in your decree because it will save you the trouble of fighting over it later. Just because you agree on something at the time of the divorce doesn’t mean that someone won’t change their mind later. If it’s not in writing, there is nothing binding you to that agreement and you are in for a real mess down the line. Having a set … Continue reading

I’m Stomping My Foot!

Some days I want to run away. I’m tired of being unappreciated. I’m tired of being the one who is the mean parent because Hailey is my responsibility 24/7. I’m tired of being the one who seems to say no more than yes. I’m tired of not being able to be the fun parent because I’m too busy working, making dinner, doing laundry, wiping noses, checking homework and worrying to have much time for fun. Does every single mother feel this way? I think we all do, there isn’t anything unique about my situation. I’m the full time parent, even … Continue reading

I’m A Big Kid Now

Potty training. Are there any other words that can make a parent want to throw up their hands in surrender? Some kids are so easy to potty train, they practically come out of the womb wearing Barbie panties, others, we wonder if they are going to school in pull ups. As a single mother diapers are an extra expense, and the sooner you can get rid of them, the easier it is on your wallet. However, being a single mother makes potty training more difficult. Usually your child spends time with people other than just you, and not everyone is … Continue reading

Our Kids Need More Exercise

Are your kids active enough? We all need exercise every day, do your kids get enough? I was always concerned about Hailey’s activity level after I got divorced. When I was married we lived in a house in a nice neighborhood, I knew my neighbors, Hailey knew the kids, we had lived there since she was three. I felt safe letting her go outside to play with other kids. Once I got divorced that changed. We lived in a series of apartments and although they were always in what I felt where good areas, I didn’t feel safe letting her … Continue reading

Needs vs. Wants

Becoming a single parent is hard in so many ways. Adjusting to all of the changes can be difficult right at first. One of the most challenging things for many single parents is learning how to manage their finances on their own. Being the sole income when there are children to support can be overwhelming to say the least. You learn to live within your means very quickly, or your kids don’t eat. As a mother the sacrifices come easily. We naturally will set aside our own needs for that of our children. What’s harder is learning to distinguish needs … Continue reading