Doing It Alone August 26, 2009

I’m always shocked when I learn that a single parent is doing it 100% on their own. Even more so when it is a single dad. I know that this happens so often in our society, but it never fails to make me slow down and think.

I was talking to a man last night who has full custody of his son. The mother is not involved at all. More common is the mother who is raising her child on their own, but the more involved I become with the single parent community, the more I realize how plentiful are the single dads out there doing it on their own.

Not all that long ago, it was a commonplace to associate the term “single parent” with divorced mothers who are struggling to make ends meet, frazzled and at their wits end. You didn’t often hear of single fathers who had joint custody of their children, let alone full custody. You even more rarely heard of single dads succeeding in life, being great fathers AND raising their kids alone.

All of you single dads out there, I want to say thank you. I know that loving and raising your children is something most of you never even thought twice about, and that warms my heart so much. You deserve to be told how awesome you are, because you truly are.

It’s moments like this that where I remind myself to say Thank You to my sons dad and that I appreciate him. So this morning I sent him a text message saying just that.

I just got word last night that there Modern Single Parent magazine is going to be interviewing a very awesome single dad for one of our first few issues! I am SO excited!!!

Living It Up! August 24, 2009

I am worshipping the last part of summer as much as I can. It seems to go so quickly here, and I’m desparate to hang onto it.

Christian and I escaped the city last weekend and went camping with a bunch of friends. It was amazing. He has become quite the little water lover.

It was amazing to turn off my phone and avoid the text messages and emails. To sit by the lake and enjoy the conversation of good friends and living in the moment. Of showing my son how to row a raft, then watching him do it on his own.

This was suppossed to be our last camping trip of the summer, but I’m thinking one more time is in order!

Self Promoting Solicitation Included At No Additonal Charge! August 18, 2009

Ok, I am going to do some dirty blog work here, and push my own product. I will never, ever spam you again, lovely blogsters, but I just wanted to put this out there. :0) You never know who will read this, and it could be some gazillionaire single parent who is just looking for something to do with some extra cash she has lying around taking up space! lol

My official plea for help:

Dear friends,
 
In order to get this economy turned around, we need organizations that are going to stimulate and spur growth. I am currently working for such an organization that I am very passionate about, but we need help. Who do you know that is a business owner that could use more business?
I am the Managing Editor for Single Parent Media Group, a single mom-owned company whose goal is to support single parents while also supporting local and national businesses. We are doing this through some innovative ways: Modern Single Parent Magazine, iHeartSingleParents.com, live events, and RESPIRE, a non-profit whose focus is to help transition struggling single parents into successful single parents.
Please email me if you want to know more, and with any referrals of business owners that could use more business through single parents. You just never know who you know that could make a difference!

Dipping One Toe In August 17, 2009

If I ever mention moving in with a boyfriend again, will someone please shoot me? Or at least lock me up until I’ve thought things through thoroughly? That’s all I’m gonna say about that!

Last night I went on my first date since the break up. We went to see a movie, and because it was Sunday night at 10:30, we had the entire theater to oursleves until a few other couples showed up at the last minute. It was pretty awesome, like the whole theater had been reserved for us. Like on those reality dating shows. We were there super early so it gave us a lot of time to talk and get to know one another. Very cool guy. Very tall ( even in heels he’d tower over me!), incredibly sexy, and all together a super cool. He’s very different from a lot of men I’ve dated (he’s a vegetarian, he doesn’t drink) but that may be just the key! Lol

There is nothing quite like being embraced by man who is taller than you. There is something so sexy about being towered over. Do you other ladies feel this way? Maybe I just feel this way because its pretty unique for me to feel short! Definitely not something I’m used to.
Now I am not looking for a relationship. Hells no! And I’ve been very up front about that. I missed the freedom of being single so much. But I love hanging out with guys. They are fun! And if they just happen to be sexy and funny, who am I to say no to an occassional date?

There was going to have to be an AfterBreakUpFirstDate at some point. I decided to just do it. And I’m so glad I did. Even though I’m very tired this morning, it was worth it.

Moving To The City! August 13, 2009

I found a house!!!!

Well, technically I did nothing of the sort. I didn’t find it at all. My dear friend Leann told me her in-laws had an empty rental. It is in North Portland in a great up and coming neighborhood. A lot of transformations are taking place. It is beautiful 1907 (I think) 4 bedroom house. The owners have done a ton of restoration and work on it, and it is simply breathtaking when you walk through the front door. The outside is a bit decieving. But when you walk through the front door, it’s all high ceilings, built in’s, a large foyer…grandness.

It has something none of the homes I’ve lived in as an adult have had…character. Between the dining room and the kitchen there is this little nook that seems odd at first, but then you realize you could put an oversized chair and reading lamp there, or a desk for the kids. There are built in shelves and storage. A plate rail in the dining room. Super cool stuff like that, stuff that new houses just don’t have.

C and I certainly don’t need 4 bedrooms to ourselves, so my first Portland friend will be moving in too! He’s a single dad, and has been commuting like 45 miles to get to work in Portland! Ack!

So…the neighbor hood. I’d never been there before last night, and I am already in love. There are super cute coffee shops, restaurants, shops, brewerys, and specialty markets. We are right across the street from a gorgeous park that has everything any child or adult could ever want from a park. Down the block is a butcher…A BUTCHER!!! Am I the only small town girl that has never once been to a butcher? Do you know how excited I am to be able to walk down to the local butcher and get some fresh meat for dinner that very night? It’s like I’m moving to Heaven!!!

We move in the last weekend of August! I absolutley cannot wait! Being Farmer Brooke was fun for a while, but in my heart of hearts their is a city skyline flanked by little martini glasses. I can still have a garden if I so choose. I think that will wait until next year though. I’m going to be very busy reconnecting with the city for a while. I have missed it so much!

Girls Like Sweet Skills August 3, 2009

But this girl has got sweet skills! Yesterday I was at my friend Liz’s house and we built a fence! I would love to lead you to believe that it was a large, yard containing fence but it wasn’t. It is about 2 1/2 feet tall and we built it to hide her recycling bins in the backyard. We had seen something similar in a magazine last summer, and then built one yesterday.

I was in charge of arranging the fence posts appropriately, then I used a staple gun to staple them in place. It was so super fun! I love creating. And it makes such a pretty addition to her already beautiful backyard!

I’ll try to attach a picture, but I don’t know if it will work since I’m on my Blackberry. If not, I’ll post it from my laptop tonight!