Good Monday Moms--
Forget about the Monday blues. Look at the lighter side of life today, like our new contributing Mom blogger, Angela does. She writes her own blog at Asinglemomsjourneytowardsaneducation.blogspot.com and her latest post is just perfect for sharing.

I was reading it and it gave me knots in my stomach--until I got to the punch line of course. Lesson learned from this? Never lose your sense of humor! Afterall, in the face of adversity, it counts for a whole lot!

Read Angela's entry below:

4/2/10
A Single Mom's Journey Towards An Education: Love Grace
Yesterday, my daughter (20 yrs-old) text me. Her message read, "Joey proposed to me last night." My brain froze. I didn't know what to say. So, I text her back, "Wow!" All I could think about was how they would struggle financially; they're too young; they're babies would run around barefoot with dirty feet; statistically they have an 80% chance for divorce. My heart broke to think about her facing the many burdens and endless responsibilities that come with marriage and child-rearing. (I assume they would have kids.) It just seems so unnecessary to make a life long decision when her life is just beginning. She has so much to do still, so much to see and so much to find.

Then, it occurred to me . . . maybe she refused his proposal or suggested they wait. Ah, there's hope. Quickly, I texted her and asked, "So, what did you say?" She replied, "Happy April Fool's Day!"

And, this is what makes Grace special - she has the sharpest mind and untamed wit!

Posted by coabode at 6:13 AM | TrackBack (0)

As single parents juggle the responsibilities of their lives at work and their lives at home, many nagging concerns arise. Along with financial worries and time management issues, there are deeper, psychological questions that mothers and fathers may be asking themselves. They wonder, "Will my being a single parent affect my child's future negatively?" or "Will my child become successful even if he or she is not from a 'traditional' family?"

Take heart single parents, many inspiring and successful adults came from single-parent homes. Not only do these men and women credit their background for shaping their world-views, they recognize that it was because of their single-parent upbringings that they made it far.

Here's a list of some amazing adults who came from single parent homes:

Audrey Hepburn, besides her famous roles in films like Breakfast at Tiffany's, Audrey Hepburn was the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador from 1988 until her death in 1993. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of her work with UNICEF, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences posthumously awarded her The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her contribution to humanity.

"How shall I sum up my life? I think I've been particularly lucky. Does that have something to do with faith also? I know my mother always used to say, 'Good things aren't supposed to just fall in your lap. God is very generous, but he expects you to do your part first.' So you have to make that effort. But at the end of a bad time or a huge effort, I've always had--how shall I say it?-- the prize at the end. My whole life shows that."

Ricky Henderson, Arguably the most prolific baseball player in the Oakland A's history, holds the records for most all-time stolen bases (1,370), most home runs leading off a game (75); steals in a season (130), 1982; most seasons leading league in stolen bases and the title of American League Most Valuable Player for 1990, and baseball Hall of Famer.

Christina Aguilera, multi-platinum selling and Grammy winning artist.

From her song, "Oh Mother:"

"So mother, I thank you
For all that you've done and still do
You got me, I got you
Together we always pull through
We always pull through."

Mother Teresa, world-famous activist:

"The problem with the world is that we draw the circle of our family too small."

Alan Heeger, 2000 Nobel Prize Winner for Chemistry

Of the importance for education, instilled in him by his mother:

"One of my earliest memories (long before my father died), is of my mother telling me of the importance of getting a university education. When she graduated from high school, she received a scholarship to go on to university but went to work instead; she was needed by her parents to help support the family. It was always clear to me that it was my responsibility to go to university; prior to my generation no one on either side of my family had an education that went beyond high school. I and my brother were the first in our family to receive the PhD degree."

Any other inspiring children of single parents to add to the list?

Posted by coabode at 9:43 AM | TrackBack (0)

There's no doubt that your kids might already be little green monsters. Don't worry, this isn't as bad as it sounds. Check out this article from the NYT, Pint-Size Eco-Police, Making Parents Proud and Sometimes Crazy, about kids who are teaching their parents a thing or two about green conscious living.

While the article pokes fun at the "pint-sized eco-police" and their reluctant-to-change parents, the upcoming Earth Day (April 22nd) is actually a great time to realign your values with your child's, while creating some inspiring earth-themed projects together.

If your kids are older, look for special events around town, they're happening across the U.S. throughout the month of April. Like, in downtown Edmonds, WA, where there is going to be an Art Walk on April 15 from 5:00pm - 8:15pm. They're celebrating with the "Arts For The Earth" initiative, a display of earth-inspired art and tastings of the local organic cheeses. If you're elsewhere, try browsing EarthDay.org's official event calendar or looking in your local paper for stuff to do.

If you've got little ones, try some green-inspired craft projects. The lovely Nickie Knight of HipMomsGoGreen.com has some awesome crafts like the "litter bugs", made from bottle caps, old buttons, or whatever else may be laying around the house.

There are also some earth interactive crafts, like helping the local birds make nests. This tip (among others) comes from AmazingMoms.com.

1) Start out by grabbing a mesh bag (the one your onions or potatoes come in) and cutting the top open, making sure the cute is wide.
2) Then stuffing it with things like yarn, old stuffing from teddy bears or pillows, or dried grass.
3) When full, hang it somewhere birds can safely access it. Hopefully, a bird looking to nest will find it and use your materials in a tree nearby. This way, your child can really see what "reuse" means when it comes to interactive environment!

Whatever you decide to do, enjoy!
Parents, do you have any other great ideas for celebrating Earth Day with your little green monsters?

Posted by coabode at 8:46 AM | TrackBack (0)