Ahh, How I Remember!

So I have so many statistics to share with you all but I think I would rather share this picture instead...

The reason I want to share this picture and the story behind it is so when you start to read about the stats I would like to share over the next two weeks my hope is you will remember this...

It was a long day we were at the park myself my two kids and some family it was great and my son was so tried he could not stay awake after eating! He just put his head down and he was out, aren't they just angels when they are sleeping?   

I was looking at this picture and it made me think about all the trails and tribulations we went through as a family. I also got to thinking about all the statistics that is out there about single parent families which is why I wanted to create this blog and community. Because of the stats that we read regarding how many single parents are other there, how x amount kids will not finish high school or how x amount of kids will end up in gangs and so on and son! It's heart breaking to read these numbers. The thing is I don't want people to read statistics and think "wow, this is horrible..."

You see it was tough and yes I was the "good cop" and the "bad cop" and there were times my son and I would just be so mad at one another we wanted to run! However, even when the situations were at it's worst I always loved him and some where between the stares and the "I hate you" from him to I , I would tell him that no matter what I loved him. There were times we would get really mad at each other and I mean really mad but he knew that even though I was mad at him that I would not leave him or send him away. And, I knew that some how we would get through it! Coming back to the picture - I can remember how he did not want to go, he was upset, he did not want to do a lot of walking and he just did not want to go but of course he did (he had no choice). In the end he had so much fun with his uncle John and with all of us so much so he was all worn out and that is why he fell asleep on his dinner plate.     

Flash forward to this past Sunday - I receive a text from my son and it said "Hi mom! How are you?" "Miss you!" That one text reminded me of how crazy our days can be and I wonder at times if I will ever get everything done. Just like I did when it was just me and my kids... would I get to day care on time, will I ever get dinner on the table, will we get homework done, ect... and yet just like back then it always has a way of working out and it always will! 

So being a single parent was tough "yes" but it was so rewarding and to see my two kids grow and to see them now and be as proud of them as I am makes my heart so big and so happy! And, they both do little things like this off and on throughout the years, we are still so very close and I imagine we always will be!  

And, so it goes...

Celebrate!

Hellooo,

Wow, today is hump day and I have been so busy I originally wanted to get this posted on Monday AM however, at least I got on today and will get on every other day from here on out!

On the afternoon of Friday, June 15^th I was excited to find in my e-mail a very anticipated announcement. When I saw the e-mail from count me in with a subject line that read Congratulations! I began to laugh, stomp my feet and cheer “I did it!”. Also on May 11^th as part of this process I participated in a Pitch Competiton we had to give a two minute pitch on our business and we were judged on this! It was crazy, it was scary but I did it and I was one of the winners!

This is an opportunity of a life time to bring this dream (Parenting On My Own) of mine into full bloom and to take it to the top is in deed exciting! I will have the best team working with me  and I’m honored and humbled, I can’t wait to share with everyone my ups and if there must…downs!

Thank You count me in!

Below is the first part of my letter that was attached to the e-mail and then a bit of info and their website address:

 http://www.countmein.org/

June 15, 2012

Greetings and Congratulations!

It is my great pleasure to inform you that, as a winner of the Urban Rebound LA competition, you have been awarded a seat in the Count Me In Business Accelerator Program.   The name stands for our desire to help more women entrepreneurs accelerate their business growth to the quarter million-dollar level…

Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence, Inc. is a leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women grow their micro business into million dollar enterprises.

Summer Vacation Ideas, Again!

OK, I believe there are still a few more ideas I left out on this subject...

A good friend of mine told a story about how she received help with her daughter during summer break. She use to go hit a bucket of balls at the local golf course with her daughter and she ended up asking the owner (who she got to know really well) of the shop if her daughter could hang out and help out with the shop. It worked out real well for her, hmm, maybe I can get her to post her story she can tell it much better then I, I'm sure there was more to the story.

Another idea... when my son was still very young he was not even in school yet I got a job in the afternoons at a daycare center and I was able to put him in the afternoon class for free (just an idea). It was a win, win situation I got to work and my son got to attend preschool!

Next... The YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, local after school programs at your children's school and City; these are  great ideas because they will work with you and your financial situation but you will have to speak up and ask! I did and was able to get my son into the afternoon program at the YMCA after school for two summers. For three summers I was able to get them into the city's summer day camp for less (I think I mentioned this one before).

Again if you have an idea or tell us what you did or do with your children during the summer tell us about it.

Lastly if you have smaller kids and the worry is not so much day care because you work from home or are attending school and need to get some work or homework done. Then you need to find a neighborhood place for moms/dads and their children where you get to do your work and your kids get to have fun while be supervised down stairs! FYI if you live on the west side of Los Angeles check out...

  

https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/373043_239788496073090_2082453781_n.jpg

They are located at: 2279 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064 
Phone: (310) 441-0797 

This is a great place and the owner is awesome!

Have an awesome weekend everyone!

And, so it goes...

Back to Summer Vacation & Child Care...

Sorry about taking so long to get back to this but it has been a whirl wind of things going on. So I believe I had mentioned there are several great ideas that a single parent can do to help with child care for your school aged children. I gave some suggestions that I used which was: day camp put on by the city where we lived, my mother, I do get not everyone has a mom, aunt or sibling that can help them out which is why I am giving other suggestions as well.

So here is a great article on different ideas that can help you or a friend: http://voices.yahoo.com/inexpensive-summer-child-care-options-busy-single-1560495.html?cat=25  I might add another great idea is if you have any nieces or nephews who are older and looking for work (of course they reliable and trust worthy) they would be great they can come to your home they help you and you help them buy paying them. Hope this helps you out.

Don't be shy leave a comment with your ideas or thoughts you could be helping another single parent figure out how she or he is going to get their school age children taken care of during the summer months!

I will be back on Thursday the 14th with some pretty interesting stats, see ya then.

And, so it goes...

I love this quote/question...

A bit of a change from summer vacations I shall get back to summer vacation by the weekend, wow that begins tomorrow!

I found this quote and I just had to post it!  I can't tell you how many times I have been asked "how do you do it, raising two kids, working full-time and doing all that you do with the kids?" My answer "I just do it".  So read the quote and tell me what super hero are you?

By the way “Thank you” Santa Rosa Mom via Wine Country Mom.Com for this awesome quote!!

And, so it goes...

Ahh, Vacation Time with The Kids

I'm still on the summer vacation thing... but this time I shifted a bit into the different things I did with my kids that kept the cost down for a nice family vacation! Money was a factor I wanted to keep cost down so we did a lot of little trips. Believe it or not a cruise was one of the cheaper vacations that we took. A simple 3-Day cruise along with two other families, a two parent family and the other was a single parent family. We all had so much fun, though we were not all together all day long (different happenings for kids and parents) there was always something to do for each of us. Our kids ages ranged from 5 to 14 (they all knew each other) it was one of the best vacations we had. In fact we all enjoyed each others company so much we ended up taking the next four years summer vacation together! This helped out so much on so many different levels.  I will have to dig up some pictures and post them.

Right now if you live close by San Diego you can find some great deals with Carnival of course I have no idea how long the great deal will last but we are talking $149.00. You can also go to CruiseCritic.com and ask any questions you may have.

Check back and I will post a few others as well.

And, so it goes...

Summer Time & School Age Children 2

OK, I apologize I was suppose to post Friday, June 1st however, I ended-up taking a "Me Day" a "Break", I spent the day at the beach!

As a single parent we sometimes forget to take time for ourselves, right? Did you know that by taking some time for just yourself we become better parents! Sooo, as we think of summer and what we are going to do with our school age children don't forget to figure out how to take a bit of time for yourself!

Here are some of the things I did? Because I was always doing so much volunteer work with in our community I was able to make payments for the summer day camp which allowed me to put both kids into the program (in other words don't be afraid to ask if you break-up the cost). My kids always had so much fun, after four years the program came to an end, boy was I bummed.  I then went to my mom and asked her if she would come to my home each day to watch the kids. We would sit down and talk about what things she could do with the kids during the summer (mind you my mom does not drive).

Well that was a few things that I did but I know you have some thoughts on this... what are you doing this summer with your school age children? or if your children are already grown what did you do during the summer school break with your children? or maybe you were raised by a single parent and if so how did you spend the summer out of school while your parent was working?

And, so it goes...